THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE 


fe  mtir  ( 


P  TJ  1ST  C  EC  I  N  E  L  3L  O  . 


ADAPTED  FROM  THE  FRENCH  OF  OCTAVE^ FED1LLET 

AND 

©mfedlisljeb  fottjj  ©ue  ^itirbre!)  pcsigia. 


NEW  YORK : 
D.    APPLETON    AND     COMPANY, 

346  &  34S  BKOADWAY. 
1858. 


THE  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES 


PUNCHINELLO 


CHAPTEE  I. 

S'lOWS  HOW  ONE  OF  THE  AUTHOR'S  ANCESTORS  BECAME  ACQUAINTED  WITH 
THE  FAMILY  OF  SIGNOR  PUNCHINELLO — MYSTERIOUS  BIRTH  OF  THE 
HERO—MARVELLOUS  EVENTS. 

;!  •!       ^  |?ROM  his  earliest  infancy, 

my  grandfather's  great- 
uncle  had  shown  a  strong 
desire  for  travelling;  but, 
owing  to  a  variety  of 
causes,  which  it  is  scarcely 
worth  while  to  record,  the 
worthy  gentleman  reached 
the  age  of  sixty  without 
having  ever  pushed  his 
exploring  expeditions  be- 
yond Greenwich  Park. 
"It  is  really  absurd,"  he 
would  frequently  say  to 
himself,  "that  the  man 
who  of  all  others  wishes 
most  to  travel  should  be 

the  very  one  that  has  seen  the  least  of  the  world.  For  I 
cannot  flatter  myself  that  seeing  the  world  consists  in  a 
ramble  from  my  house  in  Little  Britain  down  to  Black- 
heath."  In  the  course  of  time  these  reflections  produced  so 
strong  an  influence  upon  my  grandfather's  great-uncle, 


4,  THE  LIFE    OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

that  he  could  control  his  feelings  no  longer :  he  accord- 
ingly started  one  day  post-haste  to  Southampton,  whence 
he  embarked  in  a  vessel 
bound  to  Naples. 

Now  it  was  my  worthy 
ancestor's  intention  to  pro- 
ceed from  Naples,  which 
my  young  readers  will  re- 
collect is  the  capital  of  the 
Two  Sicilies,  to  the  Levant, 
from  thence  to  pass  into 
Jndia,and  afterwards  to  pay 
Me  American  continent  a 
visit ;  so  that,  thus  taking 
all  the  world  in  his  way, 
he  might  eventually  regain 
his  snug  parlour  in  Little 
Britain,  having  previously 
enjoyed  a  little  breathing- 
time  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  But,  alas !  all  these 
stupendous  projects  were 
suddenly  cut  short ;  for  he 
had  scarcely  been  in  Naples  three  days  when  he  died  of 
apoplexy,  after  eating  too  freely  of  macaroni. 

This  incident  was  doubly  provoking  ;  for  it  put  a  com- 
plete stop  to  the  projected  travels  of  my  grandfather's 
great-uncle,  and  deprived  posterity  of  that  truly  wonderful 
narrative  of  his  adventures  which  he  had  intended  to  write 
I  must  observe,  that  when  his  carpet-bag  was  sent  back  to 
England,  through  the  courtesy  of  the  Neapolitan  autho- 
rities, the  first  page  of  a  contemplated  "  Diary  "  was  dis- 
covered between  two  shirts:  this  is  so  deeply  interesting 
that  I  cannot  help  regretting  the  absence  of  all  that  was  to 
have  followed. 

I  place  on  record  this  fragment,  which  remains  a  monu 


THE   LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO. 


nient  of  my  ancestor's  splendid  talents,  and  has  a  direct 
relation  to  the  subject  of  the  present  volume:— 

x\  GRANDFATHER'S  GREAT  UNCLE'S  TRAVELLING  IMPRESSIONS. 

The  First  Day. — Arrived  at  Naples.     Dear  me ! 

The  Second  Day. — Dear  me !  dear  me ! 

The  Third  Day. — Went  for  a  little  trip  on  the  waters  of  the  bay. 
The  boatman's  name  is  Punchi.  His  wife  has  a  strange  little  monkey, 
whom  all  the  inhabitants,  twenty-five  miles  round,  have  been  to  see. 

This  "  strange  little  monkey  "  was  our  hero  himself,  who 
changed  the  paternal  name  of  Punchi  into  the  more  plea- 
sant and  endearing  one  of  Punchinello ;  which  afterwards 
was  altered  to  the  more  famous  denomination  of  PUNCH. 
The  boatman  Punchi  and  his  wife  dwelt  in  a  little 
white  cottage  near  the  shore,  where  their  skiff  was  moored. 
These  worthy  people  had  been  married  for  twenty  years ; 
and  night  and  day  did  they  deplore  their  childless  con- 
dition. This  was  es- 
pecially felt  by  the 
poor  woman,  who  was 
compelled  to  remain 
alone  the  greater  part 
of  the  day,  while 
her  husband  was  em- 
ployed in  fishing,  or 
in  rowing  people  about 
on  the  blue  waters  of 
the  bay.  Poor  Dame 
Punchi,  in  her  sorrow, 
had  purchased  a  little 
cradle  wherein  she 
might  rock  alike  her  cares  and  her  hopes,  in  waiting  a 
change  for  the  better ;  and  sometimes  she  beguiled  her 
solitude  by  singing  a  simple  air  over  the  cradle,  as  if  to 
lull  a  newly  born  infant  to  repose. 

One  evening,  while  Dame  Punchi  was  bewailing,  as 


THE   LIFE    OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


usual,  that  heaven  had  refused  to  bless  her  with  a  family, 

her  husband — who  was  wearied  of  his  wife's  incessant  com- 

plaining,  and  who  moreover  was  in  liquor  on  that  occasion 

—  rose    abruptly  from 

his  seat,  and,  striking 

his  fist  upon  the  table, 

exclaimed,  "Why  the 

dickens  do  n't  you  stop 

your  mouth!" 

"Holy  Virgin,  have 

mercy  upon  us!"  cried 

poor  Dame  Punchi. 
Scarcely    had    she 

uttered    these'  words, 

when   a  huge  cat,  as 

black   as    soot,   which 

apparently  sprang  from 

beneath  the  bed,  darted 

between  the  legs  of  the  boatman,  who  was  tripped  up  and 

thrown  sprawling  on  the 
floor.  The  cat  made  it3 
escape  by  the  door,  which 
happened  to  be  ajar.  But, 
at  the  same  moment,  a 
little  bird,  concealed  in 
the  folds  of  the  curtains, 
flew  across  the  room, 
and,  having  gently 
pecked  at  the  hair  of 
Dame  Punchi  as  it 
passed,  disappeared  by 
the  open  window. 
Before  the  worthy  couple  could  recover  from  the  fright 

•which   these  incidents  produced,  another  strange  occur- 
rence increased  their  alarm ;    for,  all  of  a  sudden,  there 

came  from  the  cradle  so  peculiar  a  cry,  that  it  seemed  as  if 


THE   LIFE    OF  PDNCHINELLO. 


the  being,  from  whose  mouth  it  issued,  had  a  hazel-nut  stuck 
in  its  throat. 

"  Wife,  do  see  what  that  is ! "  said  Punchi,  trembling 
from  head  to  foot,  and  quite  sobered  by  all  these  wondrous 
events,  although  still  kept  by  fear  in  a  sprawling  position 
on  the  floor. 

Thereupon  the  poor  woman  approached  the  cradle  in  an 
agitated  manner,  but  she  was  ready  to  die  with  joy  when 
?he  beheld  in  it  a  little  human  being  rolling  about  and 
clapping  its  hands  with  delight. 

"  Oh !  the  dear  child ! "  exclaimed  Dame  Punchi,  taking 
the  diminutive  creature  in  her  arms. 

A  mother's  eyes  are  often  blind  to  the  defects  of  her 
offspring,  and  Dame  Punchi  was  not  the  woman  to  be  dis- 
heartened by  the  appearance  of  a  hump  or  a  bump  more  or 
less.  Now  this  lovely  child 
had  but  two  such  excrescences 
— one  in  front,  growing  from 
the  chest  in  the  form  of  a 
comma  (,),  and  the  other  on 
the  back,  rising  up  to  harmo- 
nise with  the  first,  in  the  shape 
of  a  note  of  interrogation  (?). 
The  face  was  not  disagreeable, 
if  we  except  a  nose  that  re- 
sembled the  beak  of  a  parrot, 
and  showed  a  violent  inclination 
to  meet  a  chin  curving  directly 
upwards,  so  that  the  two  features 
formed  a  kind  of  arch  over  a  mouth  as  large  as  a  door-way. 

"The  dear  child!  the  little  treasure!"  repeated  the 
good  woman,  gently  caressing  the  dwarf-like  being. 

"  Let  me  have  a  look  at  him !"  said  Father  Punchi,  who 
still  persisted  in  retaining  his  recumbent  posture  upon  the 
floor,  "  Do  let  me  have  a  look  at  him !  But,  dear  me !  how 
ugly  he  isl  Well,  that  certainly  is  a  son  to  be  proud  of, 


8  THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

with  his  hump  behind  and  his  bump  before !  And  he  is 
not  even  ashamed  of  that  precious  nose  of  his  I  Give  n.e 
the  brat,  and  I'll  throw  him 
into  the  sea ! 

But,  dear  young  readers,  this 
was  easier  said  than  done ;  for, 
scarcely  had  Father  Punchi 
thus  expressed  his  kind  inten- 
tions, when  the  little  fellow 
•^  V  sprang  from  his  mother's  arms, 
t's^  and  it  would  have  done  your 
hearts  good  to  see  how  he 
gambolled  about  with  his 
funny  spindle-legs,  making 
such  grimaces  all  the  time  that  it  was  enough  to  kill  one 
with  laughing.  Then,  on  a  sudden,  he  threw  himself  for- 
ward, and  balancing  his  little  person  on  the  bump  before, 
turned  round  with  the  rapidity  of  a  teetotum.  When  ho 
had  done  this,  he  fell  at  the  feet  of  Father  Punchi,  and 
pulled  him  gently  by  the 
beard,  making  the  most 
curious  face  in  the  world 
at  the  same  instant. 

This  was  irresistible! 
Father  Punchi,  who  had 
never  laughed  so  much 
before  in  all  his  life,  and 
who,  by  the  by,  had  a 
pain  in  his  side  for  a  week 
afterwards,  was  softened 
in  a  moment. 

"Egad!"  cried  he  to 
his  wife,  as  he  embraced  the  little  being  tenderly,  so  that 
the  good  woman  was  quite  overjoyed,  "  even  if  he  has  the 
hump  of  a  dromedary  I  shall  keep  him,  for  he  amuses  me 
exceedingly." 


CHAPTER  II. 


SCBPRISINO  PROGRESS  OF  YOUNG  PUNCHINELLO — HOW  HB  GOES  TO 
COURT — THE  ADVENTURE  OF  A  DONKEY  THAT  DID  NOT  DANCE  THE 
TIGHT  ROPE — THE  MANNER  IN  WHICH  PUNCHINELLO  DISMISSES  THE 
NEGRO  AMBASSADOR. 

FTER  six  weeks  had  elapsed, 
little  Punchinello  bore  the  ap- 
pearance of  being  at  least  six- 
teen years  old ;  so  rapid  was  his 
growth,  and  so  precocious  his 
intellect.  He  could  speak  wisely 
on  a  variety  of  subjects,  he  rea- 
soned with  great  clearness  on  all 
topics,  and  he  frequently  puzzled 
his  parents  by  the  questions  he 
put  to  them.  His  father,  perceiv- 
ing the  progress  that  he  made, 
was  resolved  to  bring  him  up  as  a  street  porter ;  for  the  dear 
child,  charming  as  he  was,  caused  some  slight  difference  in 
the  domestic  economy  of  the  cottage,  and  since  good  luck 
would  have  it  that  he  should  grow  so  quickly,  it  was 
deemed  wise  to  profit  thereby.  Accordingly,  Father 
Punchi  said  to  him  one  morning  at  breakfast,  "  Punchinello, 
my  boy,  you  are  now  big  enough  to  get  your  own  living, 
and  I  should  advise  you  to  go  down  to  the  quays  and  look 
out  for  work.  You  will  make  a  good  thing  of  it  by 
carrying  travellers'  baggage." 

"  Do  n't  talk  such  nonsense,"  exclaimed  Punchinello 
respectfully,  "  I  have  got  another  project  in  my  head." 
"  And  what  may  that  be  ?"  demanded  the  father. 
"  I  mean  to  go  to  court,"  was  the  reply. 
"Egad!"  cried  the  boatman,  laughing  heartily,   « to 


10  THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


court,  eh?  But  how  will  you  get  there,  little  monkey? 
for  you  must  know  very  well  that  I  have  no  interest  in 
that  quarter." 

"I  will  present  myself,  without  any  introduction  at 
all,"  rejoined  Punchinello. 

"  And  why  do  you  wish  to  go  to  court?" 

"  That  is  easily  explained.  As  I  have  a  hump  before 
and  a  hump  behind,  1  ought  to  learn  to  read  and  write;/ 
and,  please  God,  I  may  become  so  learned,  that  people, 
when  they  hear  me  talk,  will  forget  my  deformities.  You 
are  too  poor  to  pay  for  my  schooling,  and  therefore  I  hope 
the  king  will  take  charge  of  the  expenses  of  my  education. 
I  am  almost  certain  of  being  able  to  persuade  him  to  do 
this  for  me ;  but,  in  order  to  make  sure  of  success,  I  must 
have  a  donkey." 

"A  donkey !"  cried  Father  Punchi  and  Dame  Punchi, 
as  it  were  in  the  same  breath.  "  Where  do  you  suppose 
we  are  to  procure  a  donkey  ?  Perhaps  you  fancy  it  is  easy 
to  pick  one  up  in  the  streets?" 

"  Nonsense,  my  dear  father ! "  cried  Punchinello.  "  Sell 
your  cottage,  and  rest  assured  that  before  night-fall  you 
shall  have  one  much  larger  aud  better  furnished.  With 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


II 


the  produce  of  the  sale  of  this  hovel,  you  can  buy  me  a 
nice  little  donkey." 

"Egad!  your  son  is  stark  staring  mad,  wife,"  cried 
Father  Punchi.  "  Plague  take  him,  and  his  donkey !" 

"  It  is  you  yourself  who  are  a  donkey,  Master  Punchi," 
exclaimed  the  good  woman :  "  may  not  our  son  understand 
these  things  better  than  you?" 

In  a  word,  my  dear  young  friends,  after  an  hour's 
dispute,  Father  Punchi  was  won  over  by  a  caper  which 
Punchinello  cut  at  a  lucky  moment :  the  house  was  forth- 
Avith  disposed  of;  a  donkey  was  purchased ;  and  the  result 
was  anxiously  awaited  by  Punchinello's  parents. 

The  moment  the  little  being  was  in  possession  of  the 
much-coveted  animal,  he  leapt  upon  its  back  as  nimbly  as 
j,  rider  at  Astley's.  But  whither  was  he  going  ?  Straight 
to  the  king's  palace,  followed  at  a  short  distance  by  his 
?  ather  and  mother,  who,  having  sold  their  house,  now  found 
themselves  abroad  in  the  wide  world.  The  people  also 
gathered  near  and  formed  in  procession,  shouting  loudly  all 
the  while ;  for  this  was  no  common  sight.  There  was 
Punchinello,  with  his  two  humps,  his  tight-fitting  coat,  red 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


on  one  side  and  yellow  on  the  other,  his  red  slippers  and  hie 

gilt  cocked  hat,  cantering  along  Avith  a  dignified  air.    When 
e  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  palace  the  procession  consisted 
of  at  least  three  thousand  persons,  without  reckoning  the 
dogs,  the  cats,  and  the  butterflies. 

The  king,  hearing  the  loud 
shouting  of  the  people,  ran 
to  his  balcony,  and  all  his 
court  placed  themselves  at, 
the  windoAvs,  anxious  to  learri 
what  object  the  strange  hump- 
back had  in  view.  Then 
Punchinello  bowed  three 
times  to  the  king  and  the 
royal  family,  and  made  a  sign 
with  his  hand  that  he  was 
about  to  speak.  "  Hush  J 
Silence!"  cried  the  multi- 
tude. 
"  Sire,"  exclaimed  Punchi- 

• •— ^r~      nello,    in  his    hoarse    tone, 

"  ladies,  gentlemen,  and  good 

people  all,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that,  with  the 
permission  of  his  majesty,  my  donkey  noAv  present  Avill 
dance  upon  the  tight-rope.  The  rope  shall  be  stretched 
in  the  air  fifty-one  feet  from  the  ground,  and  your  humble 
servant  Punchinello  \vill  mount  the  noble  animal  during 
this  extraordinary  exhibition." 

"  Bravo !  bravo ! "  shouted  the  people,  clapping  their 
hands,  joyfully.  "  Long  life  to  Punchinello  !  long  life  to 
the  donkey !  long  life  to  the  king  !" 

"  But  Avhen  shall  all  this  be  done,  my  humpbacked 
friend?"  asked  the  king,  after  boAving  to  the  multitudes  in 
acknowledgment  of  their  kind  wishes ;  "  for  I  do  not 
hesitate  to  confess,  in  the  presence  of  my  people,  that  I  am 
impatient  to  behold  this  strange  feat." 


9mm 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


13 


"Sire,"  answered  Punchinello,  "the  exhibition  shall 
take  place  this  evening  at  seven  o'clock,  if  your  majesty 
will  have  the  goodness  to  order 
the  lord  steward  of  your  ma- 
jesty's household  to  supply 
me  with  all  that  I  shall  require, 
namely,  a  rope,  two  poles  to 
fasten  it  to,  and  a  ladder  to 
ascend  by." 

"  Certainly,"  said  the  gracious 
monarch ;  "  let  the  lord  steward 
come  forward." 
You  must  know,  dear  readers, 
that  this  lord  steward,  whose 
name  was  Bugolino,  was  an 
ill-natured  nobleman,  uni- 
versally hated  throughout  the 
kingdom  on  account  of  the 
evil  qualities  of  his  disposition, 
and  the  cruelty  of  his  amuse- 
ments. On  one  occasion  he 
had  ordered  Father  Punchi  to 
be  bastinadoed  almost  to  death, 
upon  the  absurd  pretext  that  the  poor  man  had  trod  on  the 
toe  of  one  of  his  lordship's  horses. 

"  My  Lord  Bugolino,','  said  the  king,  "  I  desire  you  to 
make  all  the  arrangements  which  this  interesting  humpback 
requires.  Should  your  negligence  deprive  me  of  this 
twilight  diversion,  I  will  have  you  hanged  within  an  hour. 
But  if  Punchinello  shall  have  promised  what  he  cannot 
perform,  he  shall  be  hanged  instead." 

"  Sire,  I  agree  to  those  terms,"  said  Punchinello. 
"  Let  food  be  given  both  to  him  and  his  donkey,"  ex- 
claimed the  king. 

'Punchinello  was  accordingly  conducted  into  one  of  the 
courts  'of  the  palace,  and  a  servant  brought  him  some 


v.c>r 


THE  LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


choice  morsels  from  the  royal  table,  thereof  Father  and 
Dame  Punch!  had  the  larger  share,  as  the  reader  may  well 


suppose.  These  poor  people,  however,  were  far  from  being 
at  their  ease,  for  they  could  not  possibly  imagine  how 
Punchinello  would  persuade  his  donkey  to  dance  on  a 
tight-rope  elevated  fifty-one  feet  in  the  air.  They  therefore 
already  fancied  their  dear  little  humpback  hung  up  hard 
and  fast,  for  having  made  a  fool  of  the  king^ 

"  Shal-la-ballah!"  cried  Punchinello,  "do  not  alarm 
yourselves ;  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry,  for  I  will  take  care 
what  I  am  about." 

The  evening  soon  came.  By  order  of  the  lord  steward, 
two  enormous  poles  had  been  raised  in  the  court-yard  of 
the  palace ;  and  a  strong  rope  was  fastened  tightly  from 
one  to  the  other.  Three  magnificent  pavilions,  lined  with 
gold  brocade,  and  carpeted  with  the  royal  standard,  had 
been  also  erected  with  marvellous  promptitude.  The 
members  of  the  court  took  their  places  on  the  benches 
prepared  for  them,  and  the  king  was  seated  upon  his 
throne  in  the  central  pavilion.  The  multitude  filled  a 
vast  space.  There  were  the  worthy  citizens  crowded  pell- 


THE   LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO.  15 

mcll  together,  upon  tables,  chairs,  carts,  and  house-tops; 
many  of  them,  too,  supporting  their  wives  and  children 
upon  their  backs. 


Suddenly  a  shout  burst  from  the  crowd,  "Here  he 
comes!  here  he  comes!"  And,  sure  enough,  Punchinello 
appeared,  mounted  upon  his  donkey,  which  trotted  briskly 
forward,  while  he  himself  bowed  right  and  left  to  the 
company.  My  Lord  Bugolino,  who  remained  in  the 
court-yard  in  order  to  see  that  nothing  was  wanting  to 
render  the  arrangements  complete,  held  the  stirrup  while 
Punchinello  dismounted;  a  ladder  stood  against  one  of 
the  poles  to  which  the  cord  was  fastened :  Punchinello 
ascended  with  the  activity  of  a  monkey,  and  was  at  the 
top  in  no  time.  Then  he  waved  his  hat  gracefully  to  the 
multitude  below ;  and  the  people  cried,  "  Bravo !  bravo ! 
Look !  the  donkey  is  going  to  dance  now !  and  yet  it  is  a 
strange  idea !  Will  he  dance  with  his  four  legs  ?  and  must 
he  have  a  pole  to  balance  himself?"  And  all  this  time 
Lord  Bugolino  held  the  donkey  by  the  bridle  at  the  foot 
of  the  ladder. 

"  Now,  Punchinello,  my  good  friend,"-  exclaimed  the 
king,  growing  impatient,  "  you  have  bowed  and  scraped 
quite  enough.  Begin  the  exhibition;  I  am  dying  with 
curiosity." 


16 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO- 


"Sire,"  replied  Punchinello,  from  the  eminence  on 
which  he  was  perched,  "  I  am  ready." 

After  waiting  a  few  moments,  and  perceiving  that 
Punchinello  did  not  move  an  inch,  the  king  exclaimed 
angrily,  "Well,  humpback,  what  are  you  stopping  for? 
do  you  want  any  thing  ?" 

"  Saving  your  presence,  sire,"  was  the  humble  reply, 
"I  want  the  donkey." 

"What!  you  want  the  donkey?"  ejaculated  the  mo- 
narch, growing  more  and  more  passionate.  "  Are  you  endea- 
vouring to  make  a  fool  of  me  ?  Did  you  not  promise  that 
the  donkey  should  dance  the  tight-rope  ?  " 

"  And  I  can  safely  repeat  that  promise,  sire,"  rejoined 
Punchinello ;  "  all  I  require  is,  that  the  donkey  may  be 
brought  up  to  me ;  for  if  I  know  how  to  make  the  animal 
dance  the  tight-rope  to  perfection,  I  am  completely  igno- 
rant of  the  way  to  induce  him  to  walk  up  a  ladder.  I 
only  undertook  the  dancing  part,  sire;  the  rest  is  the 
business  of  your  lord  steward.  He  agreed  that  all  neces- 
sary arrangements  should  be  complete ;  and,  shal-la-ballah  I 


THE   LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO. 


17 


it  is  precisely  the  most  important  one  of  the  whole  that 
he  has  omitted!" 

At  these  words  all  the  members  of  the  court  burst  out 
laughing,  and  the  people  clapped  their  hands;  for  there 
was  not  a  soul  present  who  was  not  delighted  with  the 
embarrassment  of  my  Lord  Bugolino.  Even  the  king 
himself  sat  laughing  upon  his  throne  until  the  tears  ran 
down  his  august  cheeks,  and  he  was  compelled  to  wipe  his 
eyes  several  times  ere  he  could  utter  a  word. 

"My  Lord  Bugolino,  do  you  hear?"  at  length  ex- 
claimed his  majesty;  "hasten  to  fulfil  the  very  proper 
demand  which  Punchinello  makes  upon  you." 

"  13  ut,  sire," — said  Lord  Bugolino,  ready  to  burst  with 
rage. 

'•No  answer,  my  lord,"  interrupted  the  monarch; 
"make  the  donkey  ascend  the  ladder." 

Lord  Bugolino  accordingly  dragged  the  animal  to  the 


foot  of  the  ladder,  and  tried  to  persuade  the  poor  beast  to 
mount;  but  the  donkey  naturally  remained  as  obstinate 
as  ever. 

"  Gee  up,  gee  up !"  cried  Lord  Bugolino. 

"Hee  haw,  hee  haw!"  answered  the  donkey,  braying 


18 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


with  all  his  might,  which  created  much  laughter  amongst 
the  assembled  crowd. 

"  Wretched  animal!"  ejaculated  the  lord  steward; 
w  will  you  mount  the  ladder  ?  Gee  up  ! " 

"  Hee  haw,  hee  haw !"  repeated  the  animal,  setting  its 
fore  feet  firmly,  and  then  drawing  its  body  back  so  that  its 
haunches  almost  touched  the  ground. 

"  Vile  beast !"  cried  the  lord  steward,  surveying  the 
donkey  with  desperate  vexation ;  then,  going  behind  the 
animal,  he  endeavoured  to  push  it  for  ward  with  all  his 
strength,  until  he  became  quite  purple  in  the  face,  and 
seemed  ready  to  burst. 

"Hee  haw,  hee  haw!"  brayed  the  obstinate  beast. 

"There,  then;  take  this — and  this — and  this,"  roared 
Lord  Bugolino,  striking  desperate  hard  blows  upon  the 
animal's  hind  quarters.  But  this  time  the  donkey  had  got 
the  best  of  it  in  spite  of  the  thrashing ;  for  he  suddenly 


kicked  out  his  hind  legs,  and  laid  my  Lord  Bugolino,  high 
steward  of  the  royal  household,  sprawling  upon  the 
ground. 

"  Bravo !  bravo  !"  shouted  the  populace,  unable  to  re- 
strain their  joy. 

Quickly  as  thought,  Punchinello  descended  from  hia 
perch,  and  raised  my  Lord  Bugolino,  who  was  not  seriously 
hurt,  although  he  pretended  to  be  so  in  order  to  have  an 
excuse  for  hurrying  away  to  the  most  retired  part  of  the 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO.  19 

palace.  Punchinello  made  only  one  bound  to  reach  the 
royal  pavilion,  where,  prostrating  himself  before  the  king, 
he  implored  pardon,  with  so  comical  an  expression  of 
penitence,  that  the  king,  who  was  that  day  in  a  merciful 
humour,  replied,  "  Well  then,  little  joker,  I  will  forgive 


you ;  but  it  is  only  on  condition  that  you  will  exercise 
your  extraordinary  powers  of  invention,  so  as  to  release 
me  from  the  terrible  dilemma  I  am  placed  in  with  respect 
to  the  marriage  of  my  daughter." 

It  is  here  necessary  to  acquaint  our  readers  with  the 
precise  nature  of  the  dilemma  in  which  so  mighty  a  king 
found  himself  involved,  and  the  particulars  of  which  were 
well  known  to  all  Naples.  A  few  years  previously,  the 
monarch,  being  threatened  with  invasion  by  a  Turkish 
fleet,  had  demanded  succour,  in  the  shape  of  men  and 
money,  of  the  King  of  the  Negroes.  The  King  of  the 
Negroes  had  responded  favourably  to  this  solicitation, 
upon  condition  that  he  should  receive  in  exchange  the 
hand  of  the  Princess  of  Naples,  who  was  considered  a  per- 
fect miracle  of  beauty,  as  soon  as  she  reached  a  marriage- 
able age.  The  King  of  Naples,  urged  by  the  pressing 
nature  of  his  position,  had  been  compelled  to  accept  thia 


20 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


condition ;  and  the 
Turks  were  eventu- 
ally cut  to  pieces  by 
the  combined  forces 
of  the  two  sovereigns. 
Since  that  period  the 
princess  had  grown 
up ;  and,  on  the  very- 
day  when  Punchi- 
nello appeared  at  the 
court  of  Naples,  the 
ambassador  of  the 
King  of  the  Negroes 
had  arrived  with  great 
pomp  in  the  city,  at- 
tended by  a  train  of 
five  hundred  black 

gentlemen,     clad    in   tigers'     plans,    and    wearing    gold 

rings  on  their  necks,  their  arms,  and  their  ancles.      Now 

this  ambassador  came  with  the 

simple    and    sole     object    of 

claiming  the  unhappy  princess 

in  the  name  of  the  king,  his 

master.    So  ill-assorted  a  mar- 
riage was  contemplated  by  all 

Naples  with  sorrow  and  indig- 
nation;  for,  in  proportion  as 

the  princess  was  favoured  with 

both     mental     and     personal 

beauties,  so  was  the  King  of 

the    Negroes   marked  by    all 

kinds  of  deformity. 

Accordingly  a  murmur  of  ^ 

approbation  rose  amongst  the 

crowd,  when  Punchinello  thus 

answered  his  majesty: — "  Sire. 


THE   LIFE   OF   PUNCHINELLO.  21 

it  would  be  downright  cruelty  to  send  the  princess,  who 
is  a  perfect  star  of  beauty,  amongst  the  lions,  tigers,  and 
negroes." 

"  That  is  also  my  idea,  good  humpback,"  said  the  king; 
while  the  princess  turned  aside  to  wipe  away  the  tears 
which  dimmed  her  beauteous  eyes.  "  But  what  can  I  do, 
for  I  have  pledged  my  word?  In  plain  Italian,  my  honour 
is  compromised." 

"  What ! "  ejaculated  Punchinello,  "/foes  the  treaty 
merely  record  the  obligations  which  bind  your  majesty  ? 
Has  the  King  of  the  Negroes  no  condition  to  fulfil  on 
his  side?" 

"Alas!"  answered  the  sovereign,  "in  the  dilemma  in 
which  the  approach  of  the  Turks  involved  me,  I  promised 
all  that  was  asked  of  "me ;  and  I  am,  moreover,  bound  to 
give  my  daughter  a  dowry  into  the  bargain.  As  for  my 
intended  son-in-law,  he  was  no  doubt  determined  to  make 
merry  at  my  cost ;  and  he  accordingly  added  an  ironical 
clause  to  the  treaty,  whereby  he  binds  himself  to  give  the 
princess  nothing  save  a  pair  of  slippers  to  be  made  of  the 
most  rare  material  which  I  can  devise,  so  long  as  it  really 
exists  on  the  face  of  the  earth." 

"Shal-la-ballah !"  shouted  Punchinello.  "Dry  your 
tears,  beautiful  princess!  the  King  of  the  Negroes  shall  not 
even  touch  you  with  the  tip  of  his  little  finger.  Sire, 
allow  me  to  speak  to  this  ambassador.  It  will  not  be  long 
ere  I  send  his  black  excellency  away  with  all  his  sable 
body-guard." 


32  THE  LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

The  king,  with  a  slight  shake  of  the  head,  which  im- 
plied a  doubt  as  to  the  result,  sent  to  desire  the  presence 
of  the  negro  ambassador,  who,  together  with  all  his  suite, 
occupied  the  pavilion  on  the  left  hand.  The  moment  his 
black  excellency  and  Punchinello  were  face  to  face— and 
a  very  strange  pair  of  faces  it  was  too— the  latter  spoke 


in  the  following  manner : — "  Illustrious  envoy,  Jwu  are  no 
doubt  a  man  of  great  intellect ;  I  therefore  feel  convinced 
that  it  is  not  your  wish  to  carry  off  that  beautiful  princess 
against  her  inclination  ?  " 

"  My  instructions  are  to  take  her  away  with  me,  and 
I  shall  obey  them,"  returned  the  ambassador  rudely. 

"  Very  well,"  continued  Punchinello ;  "  and  yet  it  will 
be  an  easy  matter  for  your  excellency  to  restore  happiness 
to  the  hearts  of  the  king,  the  queen,  and  the  princess, 
without  offending  your  master.  Your  excellency  may  tell 
his  sable  majesty,  for  instance,  that  the  prince'ss  has  suddenly 
become  so  ugly  that  she  quite  disgusted  you ;  or  that  she 


THE   LIFE   OF   PUNCHINELLO.  23 

has  gone  mad;  or  has  taken  to  drinking;  or  has  married 
some  one  else ;  or  even  that  she  has  got  a  couple  of  humps, 
like  me ;  or  any  thing  else  you  choose." 

"  A  thousand  thunders ! "  cried  the  ambassador ;  "  why- 
do  you  bother  me  with  your  humps?" 

"  Shal-la-ballah!"  ejaculated  Punchinello;  "is  this  the 
pig  that  we  have  got  by  the  ears  ?  "Well,  be  it  so.  Now, 
most  noble  ambassador,  are  you  not  bound  by  treaty  to 
present  the  princess  a  pair  of  slippers  made  of  any  material 
ehe  may  choose  ?" 

"  Precisely  so,"  answered  the  ambassador ;  "  that  is, 
upon  condition  the  materials  chosen  be  in  existence  on 
the  earth!" 

"  Better  and  better ! "  exclaimed  Punchinello ;  "  and  if 
you  refuse  a  pair  of  slippers  made  of  the  material  so  speci- 
fied, there  is  to  be  no  marriage?" 

"You  have  spoken  correctly,"  returned  the  envoy, 
laughing  with  an  insolent  air  of  defiance. 

"  Now  then,  most  conscientious  ambassador,"  cried 
Punchinello,  "the  princess  has  so  good  a  taste  that  she 
fancies  nothing  upon  earth  to  be  equal  in  beauty  to  your 
skin,  both  on  account  of  its  jet  black  hue,  and  its  glossy 
brilliancy.  Will  your  excellency, 
therefore,  order  a  pair  of  slippers, 
double-soled,  to  be  immediately 
made  of  that  rare  and  costly  mate- 
rial? Should  you,  however,  pre- 
fer keeping  your  skin  for  your 
own  personal  use,  make  to  your 
master  what  excuse  you  choose 
provided  he  leaves  us  quiet  in 
future.  That  is  all  I  have  to 
say:  so  good  night — go  and  be 
skinned  elsewhere  if  you  will." 
The  ambassador,  who,  no  doubt, 
had  strong  reasons  for  not  being  skinned  alive,  decamped 


21  THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

as  fast  as  his  legs  would  carry  him,  and  embarked  on 
board  the  ship  that  brought  him,  followed  by  all  his 
negro  gentlemen.  Indeed,  such  was  his  haste  to  depart, 


that  he  forgot  to  pay  his  debts.  The  King  of  Naples, 
however,  was  so  rejoiced  at  this  happy  event,  that  he 
announced  his  intention  of  paying  them  from  his  own 
private  purse,  so  that  no  one  might  be  injured  by  the  hur- 
ried flight  of  the  ambassador. 

Meantime  Punchinello  was  the  object  of  a  thousand 
congratulations  and  tokens  of  friendship  on  the  part  of  the 
courtiers;  for  they  naturally  supposed  that  he  would 
immediately  rise  high  in  the  royal  favour.  And,  sure 
enough,  the  king  desired  him  on  the  spot  to  specify  the 
nature  of  the  recompense  which  he  desired  in  return  for 
the  important  service  rendered  to  the  royal  family. 

"  Sire,"  said  Punchinello,  "  I  require  four  things  of 
your  majesty.  The  first  is,  that  you  will  receive  me 
amongst  your  pages,  and  give  me  masters  to  instruct  me  in 
all  the  services  r 

"  Granted,"  exclaimed  the  king. 

"  The  second  is,  that  my  donkey,  to  whom  I  owe  so 
much,  may  not  in  future  be  compelled  to  turn  the  mill, 
but  that  he  be  permitted  to  graze  in  your  royal  meadows." 

"He  shall  eat  of  his  fill  of  my  pastures,"  said  the 
king. 

"The  third,"  continued  Punchinello,  "is,  that  your 


THE    LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO.  25 

majesty  will  enable  my  father  and  mother  to  live  in  com- 
fort for  the  rest  of  their  days.** 

"  Granted  most  willingly,"  said  the  king.  "  What  ia 
your  fourth  request?" 

"  The  fourth  is,  that  your  majesty  will  permit  me  to 
kiss  the  hand  of  the  princess." 

And  every  one  was  delighted  with  the  prudence  and 
wit  of  Punchinello. 

The  king  was  graciously  pleased  to  allow  him  to  kiss 
the  fair  hand  of  his  daughter;  and  the  princess,  smiling 
with  all  her  heart,  held  out  her  hand  to  the  happy  little 
humpback,  who  gently  touched  the  four  fingers  with  hia 
lips ;  but,  on  reaching  the  thumb,  he  threw  aside  all  cere- 
mony, and  smacked  it  right  cordially. 


CHAPTER   III. 


PUNCHINELLO     BECOMES     THE     KING'S     PAGE  —  THE     THREE     LAUGHABLE 

ADVENTURES  OF  MY  LORD  BUGOHNO  —  FIRST  LAUGHABLE  ADVENTUHB 
—  PUNCHINELLO'S  SECRET. 


very  same  evenng 
Punchinello  took  up  his 
abode  in  the  king's  palace, 
and  became  a  royal  page. 
His  father  and  mother  were 
not  neglected;  for  the  king 
gave  them  a  pretty  little 
cottage  which  stood  in  the 
royal  gardens,  and  was 
shaded  by  orange-trees. 
Dame  Punchi  had  nothing 
to  do  but  spin  golden  and 
silken  thread  for  the 
princess,  who  often  called, 
during  her  morning  walks 
in  the  garden,  to  chat  with 
the  good  old  couple. 
The  young  pages,  who  were  Punchinello's  companions, 
were  at  first  inclined  to  joke  with  him  on  account  of  his 
humps  and  ugly  face  ;  but,  in  a  short  time,  they  all  be- 
came his  friends  ;  for  some  were  afraid  of  his  wit,  and  the 
rest  loved  him  because  he  was  very  good-natured.  When 
a  person  is  both  clever  and  good,  he  is  sure  to  be  liked  by 
every  one  ;  and  no  one  thinks  of  looking  whether  such  a 
person  be  handsome  or  ugly. 

Punchinello,  according  to  his  request,  was  provided 
with  masters  to  teach  him  all  things  useful  :  he  knew  very 
well  that  natural  talents  are  of  little  value  unless  assisted 
by  learning;  and  he  made  up  his  mind  to  gain  so  much 


THE   LIFE    OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


knowledge,  that  persons  would  never  think  of  looking  at 

his  humps  and  ugly  face  when  he  was  talking  to  them. 

Already  his  powers  of  invention  had  made  the  king  very 

fond  of  him,  and  the 
princess  very  friendly 
with  him.  Indeed,  the 
princess,  ever  since  that 
evening  when  he  did 
her  so  great  a  service, 
by  sending  off  the  ne- 
gro ambassador,  always 
gave  him  something  or 
other  very  nice  when 
she  met  him,  and,  most 
frequently,  oranges,  of 
which  Punchinello  was 
very  fond. 

In  spite  of  this  kind- 
ness, Punchinello  did  not  escape  some  little  annoyances ; 

for  he  had  a  dreadful  enemy  in  the  person  of  my  Lord 

Ernest  Bugolino,  who  never 

forgave  him  for  having  made 

his    lordship   the    laughing- 
stock of  the  court.   Now  this 

bad  man  Bugolino,  by  virtue 

of  his  office  of  lord  steward, 

had  to  look  after  the  pages, 

and  see  that  they  did  their 

duty;    and  he   was  always 

thinking   how  he  could  set 

the   king  against   our   poor 

little    friend   with  the  two 

humps.      When    any    trick 

was  played  in  the  palace, — 

if,  for  instance,  some  lord  put 

his  hand  into  his  pocket,  and  found  a  mouse  nibbling  at  a 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


nut ;  or  if  an  ambassador  walked  gravely  into  the  king's 
presence,  dragging  a  little  cart  made  of  card- board,  and 
fastened  to  the  train  of  his  robe — whenever  such  things  as 
these  happened,  then  Lord  Bugolino  always  said,  "  Ah ! 
any  one  can  see  that  Master  Punchinello  has  had  a  hand 
in  this."  But  as  the  king  seldom  took  any  notice  of  what 
the  lord  steward  said  about  Punchinello,  this  wicked  noble- 
man made  up  his  mind  to  ruin  the  poor  little  humpback  by 
means  of  some  vile  trick  or  another. 

He  knew  that  the  king  was  very  fond  of  a  little  bird, 
the  colour  of  fire,  which  the  Sultan  of  Bengal  had  sent 
him;  now  this  little  bird  was  silent  all  day,  but  when 
evening  came  and  the  dew  began  to  fall,  it  would  warble 
the  most  beautiful  airs*  which  delighted  every  one  who 
heard  them. 

Lord  Bugolino,  like  all  stupid  and  wicked  people,  hated 
music ;  so  one  day  he  twisted  the  neck  of  the  little  warbler 
of  Bengal,  and  went 
and  hid  it  under 
Punchinello's  bed. 
The  next  morning, 
as  every  one  in  the 
palace  was  wonder- 
ing what  could  have 
become  of  the  poor 
little  bird,  Lord  Bu- 
golino sent  a  servant  s 
to  search  the  rooms 

'where     the     pages  R-  " ^^^ — ==r^- 

slept,  and,  of  course,  the  dead  body  of  the  bird  was  found 
under  Punchinello's  bed,  because  his  lordship  had  put 
it  there.  You  may  guess  how  angry  the  king  was  when 
he  heard  this,  and  he  ordered  Lord  Bugolino  to  have 
Punchinello  well  flogged  with  fifty  lashes  on  the  part 
where  such  punishments  are  generally  inflicted. 

Punchinello  was  greatly  vexed  at  the  affront  thus  put 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO.  29 

upon  him,  and  he  made 
up  his  mind  to  revenge 
himself  in  some  way  or 
another  upon  Lord  Bu- 
golino.  He  noticed  this 
nobleman  was  a  great 
dandy  in  his  dress,  and 
thought  himself  very 
handsome ;  now  this  was 
a  weak  point  which  the 
humpback  resolved  to 
attack. 

The  very  next  morning  the  walls  of  the  palace,  inside 
and  out,  were  found  covered  with  a  vast  number  of  pla- 
cards containing  these  words : — 


IN   A   FEW   DAYS  WILL   BE    PUBLISHED, 

THE  SEVENTY-THREE-AND-A-HALF  WAYS  OF 
TYING  A  CRAVAT. 

BY    LORD    BUGOLINO. 


The  whole  court  laughed  heartily  at  the  expense  of  his 
lordship,  who  had  no  great  difficulty  in  guessing  the  author 
of  this  squib. 

On  another  occasion,  when  the  king  gave  a  grand  ball, 
this  wicked  nobleman,  who  was  very  vain  of  the  lightness 
with  which  he  danced,  suddenly  found  himself  unable  to 
lift  up  his  feet  just  at  the  very  moment  when  he  wanted  to 
perform  a  favourite  polka  step,  for  the  soles  of  his  shoes 
had  been  secretly  covered  with  a  kind  of  wax,  which  stuck 
fast  to  the  floor  when  it  became  heated.  It  required  four 
strong  men-servants  to  move  the  nobleman  from  the  spot ; 
and  when  he  went  to  wipe  the  perspiration  from  his  face, 
for  he  was  very  warm  through  rage  and  shame,  he  rubbed 
his  cheeks  with  a  handkerchief  that  had  .been  strewed  with 
soot.  Presently  he  looked  at  himself  in  the  glass,  and,  aa 


30 


THE   LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO. 


you  may  suppose,  he  was  the  only  one  in  the  room  who  did 
not  laugh  at  his  face  which  was  as  black  as  a  sweep's. 

Some  time  after  this  provoking  adventure,  the  conver- 
sation in  the  king's  apartment  turned  upon  the  rich  dress 
and  fine  appearance  of  Lord  Bugolino. 

"  Yes,  he  does  wear  very  nice  clothes,"  said  Punchinello, 
"  and  he  may  be  very  handsome :  though  no  one,  seeing 
him  dressed,  would  fancy  that  there  was  any  thing  the 
matter  with  him." 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  him?"  asked  the  king. 
"Your  majesty  cannot  be  ignorant  of  that,  surely?" 
said  the  cunning  little  humpback. 
"  What  do  you  mean  ?" 

"  Sire,  any  one  of  your  majesty's  courtiers  will  explain 
it, " 

The  king  then  questioned  his  courtiers,  but  one  and  all 
declared  that  they  did  not  know  what  Punchinello  meant. 
His  majesty  was  dying  with  curiosity,  so  he  pressed  the 
page  to  speak  out. 

"  Sire,"  said  Punchinello,  "  I  thought  that  this  matter 
was  well  known,  but  as  I  alone  appear  to  know  any  thing 
about  it,  it  is  better  for  me  to  keep  the  secret." 

"  I  promise  not  to 
betray  it,  if  you  will 
tell  me,"  cried  the 
king.  "Indeed,  as 
your  sovereign,  I 
command  you."« 
Punchinello  then  put 
his  lips  to  the  king's 
ears,  and  said  in  a 
whisper,  "  Sire,  the 
Lord  Ernest  Bugo- 
lino is  covered  with 
small  feathers." 
"What!"  exclaimed  the  king, "covered  with  feathers! 
Is  it  possible?" 


THE    LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO. 


81 


"  Very  possible,  sire.  He  is  completely  covered  like  a 
bird,  every  where,  save  on  his  head,  neck,  and  hands." 

"  Well !  now  I  am  no  longer  astonished  that  he  should 
dance  with  so  much  lightness!''''  said  the  king;  "but,  fea- 
thers, indeed !  It  is  really  wonderful ! " 

"  Sire,  his  lordship  is  covered ;  and  when  he  sits  down, 
ygur  majesty  may  suppose  that  he  does  not  find  himself 
very  much  at  his  ease."  The  king  burst  out  into  a  loud 
laugh,  rubbing  his  hands  merrily  together.  The  lords 
and  ladies  of  the  court  who  were  present  saw  the  king 
laugh ;  and,  of  course,  supposing  that  Punchinello's  secret 
must  be  something  very  good,  they,  one  after  the  other, 
took  him  aside,  and  begged  him  to  admit  them  to  his 
confidence. 

"  I  will  tell  you  the  secret  with  pleasure,"  said  Punchi- 
nello, giving  the  same  answer  to  each ;  "  but  only  on  con- 
dition that  you  will  not  reveal  it  again." 

Then  he  related  the  same 
story  he  had  told  the  king ; 
and,  thanks  to  this  method 
of  confiding  his  secret, 
under  the  pledge  of  silence, 
to  every  one,  there  was  not 
a  soul  in  the  palace,  down  to 
the  scullions,  who  had  not 
speedily  learnt  that  Lord 
Earnest  Bugolino  was  co- 
vered with  feathers  beneath 
his  garments.  It  is  from 
-  this  circumstance,  that  all 
^^jT"  secrets,  which  are  not  faith- 
fully kept,  have  ever  since 
been  called,  "Punchinello's  secrets" 

In  due  course  Lord  Bugolino  entered  the  royal  apart- 
ment to  play  cards  with  the  king.  His  presence  was  the 
signal  for  stifled  laughter,  cunning  glances,  and  roguish 


THE   LIFE    OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

smiles,  the  real  cause 
of  all  which  his  lord- 
ship was  very  far  from 
suspecting.  Some  per- 
sons present  even  went 
so  far  as  to  stand 
upon  tiptoe  and  look 
down  his  back,  be- 
neath his  lace  collar, 
in  order  to  see  where 

___         ^ ^  the  feathers  began. 

-  A  The  worst  of  all  this, 

in  respect  to  Lord  Bugolino,  was,  that,  having  lost  several 
games,  he  observed,  "  Your  majesty,  I  have  just  been  well 
plucked." 

At  these  words  every  one  present  burst  into  a  fit  of 
laughter ;  and  the  king  could  not  help  saying,  "  Well,  my 
dear  Ernest,  you  have  done  quite  right." 

Lord  Bugolino,  who  could  not  make  out  what  they  all 
meant  with  their  laughter  and  their  strange  observations, 
retired  to  his  own  apartments  to  reflect  on  these  mortify- 
ing events. 

Punchinello  did  not,  however,  think  his  chastisement 
repaid  by  the  tricks  he  had  already  played  on  Lord  Bugo- 
lino. He  had  noticed  that  every  evening,  at  the  same 
hour,  this  nobleman  went  in  secret  to  a  beautiful  arbour, 
in  one  corner  of  the  royal  gardens,  and  dug  up  the  earth 
in  a  certain  spot.  Punchinello,  who  was  curious  to  learn 
the  meaning  of  this,  turned  up  the  earth  in  the  same  place, 
and  discovered  a  bag  of  gold.  Lord  Ernest  was  a  miser ; 
and,  fearful  of  being  robbed  (for  wicked  people  are  always 
suspicious),  he  had  buried  his  money.  Punchinello  was 
much  too  honest  to  think  for  a  single  moment  of  taking 
what  did  not  belong  to  him :  he  accordingly  covered  up 
the  treasure  as  he  had  found  it,  and  then  hastened,  leaping 
and  skipping  joyfully  along,  to  the  king,  who  was  at 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


supper  in  his  great  marble  halL     "What  is  there  new?" 
demanded  the  sovereign,  when  he  saw  Punchinello. 

"  Sire,"  answered  the  humpback,  in  a  low  voice,  "  your 
lord  steward  must  belong  to  some  family  of  birds.  He  is 
not  only  covered  with  feathers ;  but — he  goes  farther  still 
— he  lays  eggs  ! " 

"  What !"  cried  his  majesty;  " do  you  mean  to  tell  me 
that  Lord  Bugolino lays  eggs?" 

"  Sire,"  said  Punchinello,  "  it  is  very  certain  that  he 
does  really  lay  eggs." 

"Nonsense  !"  exclaimed  the  king,  greatly  surprised. 
"  Sire,"  added  the  mischievous  little  page,  "  if  your 
majesty  will  come  with  me  to-morrow  evening,  all  doubts 
on  this  point  shall  be  cleared  up." 

On  the  following  evening,  the  king  and  Punchinello 
passed  through  the  gardens  together,  his  majesty  feeling 
very  curious  to  see  his  lord 
steward  lay   eggs.      When 
they    reached    the    arbour, 
they    concealed    themselves 
amongst  the  trees,  and  soon 
saw   Lord  Ernest  drawing 
near.     He   entered  the  ar- 
bour very  cautiously,  look- 
ing about  him  on  all  sides; 
then,  with  his  back  turned 
towards  the  place  where  the 
king  and  Punchinello  were 
concealed,  he  stooped  down 
to  bury  some  more  money. 
"Upon  my  honour,"  whispered  the  king  to  Punchi- 
nello, '"  I  do  really  believe  that  you  are  quite  right.     This 
is  the  funniest  thing  I  ever  knew  !      A  man  must  have 
very  little  to  do  when  he  amuses  himself  by  laying  eggs. 
But  why  the  dickens  does  he  dig  up  the  ground?" 
"  He  is  burying  the  eggs,"  replied  Punchinello. 


531 


34 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


"  Ah !  I  see,"  said  the  king,  twiddling  his  forefingers 

in  a  very  serious  manner.     "  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  it; 

jny  lord  steward  lays  eggs." 

At  this  moment  the  nobleman  rose,  and  retired  slowly, 
-  >^      -a<-  «'!  .thinking  of  his  hid- 

-^  i^K|i  den  treasure.  The 
king  lost  no  time  in 
entering  the  arbour, 
'^^^'^H-l '-.  while  Punchinello 
lighted  a  lantern. 
"Here  is  the  place," 
said  the  king. 
« Very  well,"  re- 
turned Punchinello ; 
and,  with  his  knife, 
he  began  to  dig  up 
the  earth,  but  not  in 

the  precise  spot  where  he  knew  the  gold  to  be  buried. 

"  Goodness  gracious!"  cried  the  king,  all  on  a  sudden, 

as  he  watched  the  proceeding  with  the  most  lively  interest; 

"here  is  one  egg!  here  ^n^^?^^ 

is  another !    here  is  a 

third!  here isafourth!" 

— and,   thus   counting 

them  one  after  another, 

he  found  as  many  as 

twelve.  "  By  my  royal 

crown,"  continued  his 

majesty,  turning  them 

over  with  the  tips  of 

his  fingers,  "  one  might 

almost  think  they  were 

turkeys'  eggs." 

This  great  sovereign 

was  not  very  far  wrong ;  for  Punchinello  had  taken  them 

in  the  morning  from  the  royal  turkeys'  nests. 


THE  LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO.  85 

"  Well,  I  shall  take  them  away,"  exclaimed  the  king ; 
"  and  I  know  very  well  what  I  shall  do  with  them." 

He  accordingly  held  up  his  purple  robe  like  an  apron, 
so  as  to  carry  the  eggs  in  safety ;  and  in  this  way  he  re- 
turned to  the  palace,  attended  by  Punchinello,  who  held 
the  lantern. 

Now  there  was  at  Naples,  my  dear  young  readers,  a 
college  of  twelve  learned  men,  whose  business  it  was  to 
look  into  every  thing  wonderful  or  strange  that  might 
occur.  The  king  sent  that  very  same  evening  to  order  the 
twelve  learned  men  to  come  to  the  palace  without  delay ; 
and,  on  their  arrival,  he  explained  to  them  the  singular 

event  he  had  witnessed 
by  means  of  Punchinello. 
He  also  placed  the  eggs 
before  them.  A  small 
stove  was  brought  in; 
one  of  the  eggs  was  plain 
boiled;  the  rest  were  made 
into  an  omelette;  and 
three  of  the  most  learned 
of  the  wise  men  were 
formed  into  a  committee 
of  taste.  From  the  re- 
port of  these  sages,  the  president  of  the  college  gave  the 
following  opinion  to  the  king :  — 

"  Although  the  eggs  of  the  Lord  Ernest  Bugolino  have 
the  shape  of  turkeys'  eggs,  they  differ  completely  in  their 
taste.  Their  flavour  is  that  of  pine-apples;  and  as  so 
wonderful  a  thing  ought  to  be  fully  explained,  his  lordship 
is  prayed,  in  the  name  of  the  king,  and  for  the  advance- 
ment of  science,  to  appear  before  a  special  committee, 
which,  being  divided  into  several  sections,  may  visit  foreign 
colleges,  and  thus  obtain  a  complete  explanation  of  the 
subject." 

In  spite  of  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  some  of  the  learned 


SO  THE  LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

men  went  straight  to  acquaint  Lord  Bugolino  with  the 
president's  opinion.  The  nobleman  was  in  bed ;  but  the 
moment  the  message  was  delivered  to  him  he  jumped  up, 
and  began  skipping  about  like  a  madman,  so  that  the  wise 
men  began  to  suspect  that  Punchinello  had  deceived  them 
all;  for  they  now  saw  very  clearly  that  Lord  Bugolino 
had  not  a  single  feather  upon  his  body,  and  it  was  but  fair 
to  suppose  that  the  story  of  the  eggs  was  untrue  also. 
We  cannot  say  who  looked  the  more  foolish, — Lord  Bugo- 
lino, or  the  learned  men ;  it  is,  however,  certain  that  they 
one  and  all  made  up  their  minds  to  punish  Master  Punchi- 
nello for  the  absurd  trick  which  he  had  played  them, 


CHAPTEE   IV. 


SECOND    LAUGHABLE    ADVENTURE    OF    LORD    BUGOLINO — WHAT   HAPPENED 
TO   THE   WIGS   OF    THIS    NOBLEMAN    AND    THE    TWELVE    LEARNED   MEN. 

j\EXT  morning  Lord  Bugolino,  followed  by  the  twelve 
learned  men,  presented  himself  to  the  king,  who,  in  spite 
of  his  dignity,  could  not  help  laughing  in  his  sleeve  when 

he  saw  them  all 
come  in.  The  lord 
steward,  speaking 
in  the  name  of  the 
whole  body,  as- 
sured his  majesty 
that  "the  state 
would  be  shortly 
ruined,  if  the  im- 
pudence of  Mas- 
ter Punchinello  were  not  put  an  end  to,  for  nothing  was 
sacred  in  the  eyes  of  the  humpback.  He  has  already  found 
means  to  turn  the  respectable  body  of  wise  men,  and  even 
myself  (the  lord  steward),  into  ridicule  before  the  court 
and  city.  In  a  short^time,  if  he  be  not  punished,  we  shall 
see  him  make  a  laughing-stock  even  of  your  majesty; 
and  we  therefore  pray  your  majesty  to  chastise  this  great 
offender,  so  as  to  save  the  country  and  the  throne  from  ruin." 
The  king,  upon  hearing  this  discourse,  wore  a  serious 
aspect,  and  ordered  Punchinello  to  be  brought  before  him. 
"  Master  page,"  said  the  king,  "  I  must  frankly  admit 
that  your  last  joke  gave  me  much  amusement ;  I  even 
laughed  with  the  queen,  as  we  talked  about  it,  during  a 
great  part  of  the  night.  It  is  not  the  less  certain,  how- 
ever, that  you  made  fools  of  us  all — of  me  as  well  as  of 
those  learned  gentlemen.  This  -is  very  wrong,  and  ia 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


likely  to  set  a  bad  example.    I  cannot,  therefore,  help  order- 
ing you,  my  poor  little  humpback,  to  receive  five  hundred 

blows  of  a  stick 
upon  the  soles  of 
your  feet." 
"Sire,"  exclaim- 
ed Punchinello, 
"  may  I  be  at 
least  permitted  to 
choose  the  kind  of 
stick  with  which 
I  am  to  be  chas- 
tised?" 

"  You  may,"  an- 
swered the  king. 
"  Then,  sire,  I  beg  that  it  may  be  a  sugar-stick,"  said 
Punchinello. 

"  No,  no,"  cried  the  king,  severely ;  "  we  are  not  joking 
at  present.  I  am,  moreover,  in  no  humour  for  mirth ;  be- 
cause the  princess,  my  daughter,  has  been  for  some  days 
plunged  into  a  profound  melancholy,  of  which  the  physi- 
cians declare  she  must  shortly  die,  if  we  do  not  find  means 
to  make  her  laugh.  And  this  is  impossible !  The  poor 
creature  is  as  gloomy  as  death.  Nothing  calls  a  smile  to 
her  lips." 

"  I  will  make  her  laugh ! "  ejaculated  Punchinello. 
"  You !  can  you  make  my  daughter  laugh  ?  " 
"  This  very  day,  sire." 

"Well  and  good,"  said  the  king.  "At  that  rate  I 
will  forgive  you  the  five  hundred  slaps  with  the  stick; 
but  if  you  do  not  succeed  you  shall  receive  a  thousand. 
"  Gentlemen,"  added  the  king,  turning  towards  Lord 
Bugolino  and  the  twelve  wise  men,  "ye  shall  be  the 
umpires." 

"  I  hope  that  they  will,"  said  Punchinello  to  himself. 
When  the  monarch  asked  the  humpback  if  he  required 


THE   LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO. 


39 


any  thing  to  assist  him  in  doing  what  he  had  proposed, 
Punchinello  said,  that  all  he  wanted  was  about  fifteen 
pigeons  from  the  royal  dove-cotes.  The  king  gave  him  leave 
to  take  them ;  and  all  the  court  went  immediately  into  the 
gardens.  The  princess  placed 
herself  at  a  window,  in  obe- 
dience to  a  positive  order 
which  the  king  gave  her;  for 
she  had  no  heart  for  any 
amusement ;  and  it  was  quite 
wretched  to  see  how  pale  and 
thin  she  had  grown,  while 
her  eyes  were  always  filled 
with  tears,  caused  by  her 
melancholy  state  of  mind. 

"  It  is  very  clear,"  said  the  people  on  all  sides,  "  that  the 
fear  of  the  five  hundred  slaps  has  turned  poor  Punchinello's 
head ;  for  he  never  can  make  our  sweet  princess  laugh/' 

But  it  was  chiefly  from  Lord  Bugolino  and  the  twelve 
learned  men  that  Punchinello  received  the  most  cutting 
taunts,  and  the  most  cruel  jokes,  for 
having  undertaken  so  hopeless  a  task. 
Punchinello  shortly  made  his  ap- 
pearance, bearing  on  his  back  a  large 
cage  in  which  there  were  fifteen  of 
the  royal  pigeons. 

"  What  is  he  going  to  do?"  said 
the  king.  "  Alas !  my  daughter  does 
not  laugh  ;  and  really  I,  myself,  can 
see  nothing  to  laugh  at." 

"In  the*  meantime  Punchinello 
placed  his  cage  at  the  feet  of  Lord 
Bugolino  and  the  twelve  wise  men, 
saying,  in  a  polite  manner,  "My  lord  and  gentlemen,  I 
trust  you  will  be.  able  to  judge  better  than  any  one  else 
the  value  of  my  joke." 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


He  then  took  from  the  cage  one  of  the  pigeons,  which 
he  fondled  for  a  short  time,  in  the  midst  of  general  attention ; 

but  the  princess 
still  went  on  weep- 
ing sadly !  All  on 
a  sudden  Punchi- 
nello let  the  pigeon 
go,  and  it  imme- 
diately flew  up- 
wards. No  one  had 
observed  that  there 
was  a  piece  of  fine 
silk  fastened  to  the 
bird's  leg,  the  other 
end  of  which  re- 
mained in  Punchi- 
nello's hand.  While 
Lord  Bugolino  was 
following  the  pi- 
geon with  his  eyes, 
like  every  one  pre- 
sent, the  mischievous  page  adroitly  fixed  to  the  noble- 
man's wig  a  fishing-hook,  which  he  had  fastened  to  the 
silk;  and  now,  behold!  the  wig  suddenly  flies  up  into 
the  air ! 

At  this  droll  event,  and  at  the  sight  of  my  Lord  Bugo- 
lino, who  leapt  up  as  high  as  he  could  to  try  and  catch  his 
wig,  shouts  of  laughter  broke  forth  so  loud,  that  some 
folks  who  make  great  things  of  trifles  said,  they  were 
heard  nearly  eight  miles  off  at  sea !  Still  the  merriment 
thus  occasioned  knew  no  bounds,  when  Punchinello,  who 
had  seized  the  first  moment  of  surprise  to  fasten,  with 
great  skill  and  speed,  the  twelve  other  hooks  to  the  wigs 
of  the  learned  men,  suddenly  let  the  pigeons  escape,  and 
the  twelve  wigs  flew  up  into  the  air  after  that  of  the  lord 
steward.  Then  was  it  that  the  princess,  who  had  not 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


41 


emiled  until  now,  followed  the  example  of  all  the  rest,  and 
began  to  laugh  so  heartily  that  she  was  forced  to  hold  her 
sides,  for  she  could  not  stop 
herself.  As  for  the  king,  he 
was  so  rejoiced  at  this  event 
that  he  knew  not  what  he 
did ;  and  he  actually  hugged 
a  greasy  kitchen-boy  who 
happened  to  be  passing  at 
the  time.  In  a  word,  his 
courtiers  were  obliged  to 
carry  him  away  to  the  palace. 
The  pigeons  and  the  wiga 
were  soon  out  of  sight  in  the  clouds;  while  the  lord 
steward  and  the  twelve  learned  men,  with  their  bare  heads, 
took  to  their  heels  as  hard  as  they  could,  pursued  by  the 
shouts  and  laughter  of  all  the  good  folks  in  the  beautiful 
city  of  Naples. 


CHAPTEE   V. 

THIRD  AHD  LAST  LAUGHABLE  ADVENTURE  OF  tORD   BUGOLINO — HIS  COLD 
IN   THE   HEAD,   AND   WHAT   IT   LED   TO. 

1  HE  great  lords  of  the  kingdom,  and  the  learned  men  of 
the  country,  all  thought  themselves  affronted  by  the  joke 
of  the  wigs.  They  therefore  went,  half-a-dozen  at  a  time, 
to  the  palace,  with  very  long  faces,  and  for  the  purpose  of 
praying  the  king  to  have  Punchinello  put  to  death.  Having 
heard  all  that  they  had  to  say,  the  king  declared  that  "  it 
was  very  kind  of  them  to  wish  for  the  death  of  a  person 
who  had  just  saved  the  life  of  the. princess,  his  daughter; 
that  Lord  Bugolino  and  the  learned  gentlemen  of  the  col- 
lege might  think  themselves  lucky  in  having  helped  to  effect 
that  cure ;  and  that  any  one  who  was  not  satisfied  had  only 
to  say  so  in  order  to  be  dismissed  from  office  without  delay." 

The  lords  and  learned  men  made  great  haste  to  depart ; 
for  they  were  mightily  alarmed  at  this  assurance  on  the 
part  of  the  king  ;  and  if  their  faces  were  long  before,  they 
were  now  quite  hideous,  so  crest-fallen  had  they  become. 

Having  got  rid  of  these   persons,  the  king   sent  for 
Punchinello,  and  advised  him  to  travel  a  little,  in  order  to 
complete  his  education.      Punchi- 
nello   saw  that  this  was  a  polite 
way  of  sending  him  off;    but  he 

0  was  very  g^j  f°r  fre  ha(i  i°no 

known  that  he  was  like  a  fish  out 
of  water  amongst  so  many  foolish 
^rj^  persons,  and  that  the  city  of  Na- 
~~  "^.f  pies  was  not  the  stage  which  suited 
him.     He  was  also  so  far  advanced 
in  his  studies,  that  his  masters  had 
nothing  more  to  teach  him ;  while 
he   actually  made    discoveries    in 
science  of  which  they  themselves 


THE   LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO.  43 

were  totally  ignorant.  In  a  word,  Punchinello,  like  all 
clever  persons,  felt  himself  attracted  towards  England,  as 
it  were  to  his  native  land.  He,  therefore,  agreed  with  the 
king  that  it  would  be  better  for  him 
to  travel ;  and  it  was  settled  that  he 
should  depart  in  two  days  without 
delay. 

The  news  of  this  intention  on 
the  part  of  Punchinello  could  not 
be  kept  secret;  and  it  gave  great 
comfort  to  the  heart  of  Lord  Bugo- 
lino and  to  the  twelve  learned  men 
of  the  college.  To  speak  the  truth, 
the  entire  court,  with  the  exception  of  the  princess,  felt 
rejoiced  at  the  idea  of  getting  rid  of  one  who  was  always 
a  source  of  fear, — for  wit  is  ever  dreaded  by  stupidity. 

But  the  people  of  Naples  took  quite  another  view  of 
Punchinello's  idea  of  leaving  them.  "  He  is  going  away !" 
they  said,  in  the  great  squares,  through  all  the  streets,  from 
door  to  door,  from  window  to  window,  from  pillar  to  post : 
"  he  is  going  away,  our  dear  Punchinello !  the  only  one  who 
ever  punished  that  wicked  Bugolino  ! — the  people's  cham- 
pion !  He  is  going  to  leave  us  : — let  us  shed  all  our  tears, 
and  drink  all  our  wine  to  his  health !  Alas !  alas !  we  shall 
lose  him  for  ever — the  dear  humpback !  Let  us  get  tipsy 
with  our  good  wine  to  drown  our  grief!  We  will  pass  the 
night  in  feasting  and  dancing!  Alas  !  alas!" 

Thus  spoke  the  people  of  Naples,  my  dear  young 
readers — half  laughing,  half  crying,  like  the  sun  in  an 
April  storm.  Bugolino  was  indeed  greatly  disliked,  be- 
cause it  was  his  duty  to  levy  the  taxes,  and  he  performed 
the  task  in  a  very  cruel  manner;  so  that,  as  there  is  no 
other  comfort  for  the  wretched  than  to  laugh  at  the  ex- 
pense of  those  who  make  them  suifer,  it  was  not  with- 
out cause  that  the  Neapolitans  were  sorry  to  lose 
Punchinello. 


44 


THE   LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO. 


While  the  humpback  was  tying  a  cord  round  his  box, 
and  packing  up  his  books, 
his  guitar,  and  his  mathe- 
matical instruments,  a  depu- 
tation of  the  fishermen  and 
the  poorer  orders  of  Naples 
was  announced.  Punchinello 
received  those  excellent 
people  with  proper  modesty, 
being  quite  astonished  at 
the  honour  done  him.  The 
spokesman  stated,  how 
deeply  Naples  grieved  at  the 
idea  of  Punchinello  leaving 
them,  and  wound  up  his  flattering  speech  in  the  following 
manner :  — "  Yes,  Master  Punchinello,  you  do  well  to 
depart,  since  you  have  the  power;  but  we,  dear  friend, 
cannot !  We  have  children ;  we  are  old ;  and  we  are 
bound  to  this  country.  We  shall  now  be  left,  when  you 
are  gone,  to  the  cruelty  of  this  hated  lord  steward,  unless 
you  can  find  some  means  to  prevent  it." 

"I  will  think  of  what  can  be  managed,  my  good 
friends,"  answered  Punchinello,  melting  into  tears. 

The  deputation  then  retired,  overjoyed  at  the  hope 
which  their  favourite  had  held  out. 

Punchinello  was  well  aware  that  tne  king  would  for- 
give his  great  lords  almost  any  thing  save  a  breach  of 
etiquette.  Thus  Lord  Bugolino  had  lately  killed  .a  man 
with  a  horse-whip;  and  all  the  punishment  he  had  re- 
ceived was  a  gentle  box  on  the  ears.  On  the  same  day,  a 
courtier,  who,  by  an  oversight,  had  put  on  his  cap  while  in 
attendance  on  the  king,  during  a  walk,  was  immediately 
seized  and  put  to  death.  It  was,  therefore,  necessary  to 
induce  Lord  Bugolino  to  commit  some  breach  of  etiquette; 
but,  unfortunately,  no  one  was  more  skilled  in  that  science 
than  is  lordship;  and  rather  than  fail  in  any  single  point 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO.  45 

in  that  respect,  he  would  have  suffered  any  thing.  Etiquette 
was  all  he  knew ;  but  he  knew  it  well — just  as  all  simple- 
tons are  well  versed  in  some  one  particular  subject. 

Still  Punchinello  did  not  despair  of  making  the  lord 
steward  commit  some  great  error,  which  should  not  only 
be  a  grave  offence  against  the  rules  of  the  palace,  but  at 
the  same  time  a  breach  of  etiquette  altogether  unequalled. 
I  must  tell  you  that  Lord  Bugolino  was  very  fond  of 
snuff;  and  he  would  not  remain  five  minutes  without 
taking  a  pinch. 

Punchinello  knew  how  to  act,  and  passed  the  night  in 
making  a  mixture  of  snuff  and  of  the  powdered  root  of  a 
certain  plant,  which  he  had  found  out  while  studying 
botany.  This  root  was  of  so  strong  a  nature,  that  it  gave 
an  immediate  cold  to  any  one  whose  nose  it  touched,  and 
produced  such  a  violent  desire  to  sneeze,  that  sneeze  one 
must,  or  die  of  the  pain.  Punchinello  having  well  mixed 
the  snuff  and  the  powdered  root  together,  put  it  all  into  a 
box  exactly  like  the  one  which  Lord  Bugolino  carried. 

On  the  following  evening  (the  one  before  the  day 
fixed  for  Punchinello's  departure),  Lord  Bugolino  was 
on  duty  as  principal  lord  of  the  bedchamber ;  and  his 
office  was  to  hand  the  king  his  night-shirt,  when  that 
monarch  retired  to  rest,  according  to  the  custom  of  those 
times. 

Before  Lord  Ernest  ascended  to  the  royal  chamber  to 
fulfil  that  ceremony,  the  page  who  attended  upon  him, 
cunningly  took  the  snuff-box  and  handkerchief  from  his 
master's  pocket ;  for  Punchinello  had  desired  him  to  do  so, 
When  the  lord  steward  was  in  the  king's  presence,  he 
felt  in  his  doublet  for  his  snuff-box ;  and,  not  finding  it,  he 
desired  his  page,  who  was  in  the  antechamber,  to  go  and 
fetch  it.  This  page  met  Punchinello  on  the  stairs;  and 
the  humpback  gave  him  the  box  containing  the  prepared 
mixture,  saying,  "Please  to  hand  it  to  your  master  just  at 
the  moment  when  the  king  is  about  to  put  on  his  night- 


THE   LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO. 


shirt."  The  page,  thinking  that  some  mischief  was  in- 
tended, was  too  fond  of  a  joke  not  to  do  as  he  was  desired. 
He  accordingly  waited  in  the  antechamber,  peeping 
through  the  key-hole  into 
the  royal  apartment,  until 
the  proper  moment  had  ar- 
rived. Then,  hurrying  into 
the  chamber,  and  pretending 
to  be  out  of  breath,  he  gave 
the  box  to  the  lord  steward, 
who  was  already  holding  the 
royal  night-shirt  in  his  hand. 
Lord  Bugolino  could  not 
resist  the  desire  to  take  a  pinch ;  and  he  indulged  himself 
with  a  good  one.  At  that  instant  the  king  took  off  his 
day-shirt ;  and  at  the  very  same  moment  the  lord  steward 
suffered  from  the 
effect  of  the  pre- 
pared snuff.  He 
felt  suddenly  taken 
with  a  desire  to 
sneeze,  and  quick- 
ly sought  for  his 
handkerchief.  It 
was  not  in  his 
pocket ;  and  he 
could  not  wait  an- 
other minute — no, 
not  a  second  longer. 
His  head  seemed 
to  swim  round ; 
and,  behold !  the  lord  steward  sneezes  over  the  night-shirt 
which  he  holds  in  his  hand ! 

"  What !"  cried  the  king,  "  is  that  you,  Ernest — blow- 
ing your  nose  on  the  night-shirt  of  your  king!" 

"Sire,"  said  Lord    Bugolino, — but  another  sneezing 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO.  47 

fit  came  on ;  and  again,  and  again — half-a-dozen  times — 
did  the  nobleman  use  the  royal  night-shirt  as  a  pocket- 
handkerchief. 

"  Ernest ! — lord  steward !  Bugolino !— my  lord ! "  cried 
the  king,  who  was  shivering  in  the  cold.  But  that  nobleman 
heard  nothing ;  and,  to  wind  up  his  disaster,  he  rolled  the 
shirt  into  a  ball,  and  placed  it  in  his  pocket. 

"  Give  me  another  night-shirt ! "  said  the  king,  in  a 
furious  rage ;  "  and  arrest  that  insolent  blower  of  noses — 
that  false  advocate  of  etiquette  !" 

"  Sire — sire!"  cried  the  nobleman. 
"  These  are  kitchen  manners!"    exclaimed  the  sove- 
reign, who,  in  his  turn,  would  now  hear  nothing  that  was 
said:    "our  royal  shirts  are  nothing  but  common  jack- 
towels  in  your  eyes !" 

But,  alas !  an  event  which  it  was  not  easy  to  foresee, 
threw  on  Punchinello's  head  all  the  peril  which  for  a 
moment  seemed  to  threaten  the  lord  steward.  The  king, 
who  was  dotingly  fond  of  snuff,  took  a  pinch  from  the  fatal 
box,  which  Lord  Bugolino  had  placed  open  on  a  table 
close  at  hand ;  and,  as  his  majesty, 
in  the  rage  and  fury  of  the  instant, 
completely  crammed  his  nose  with 
the  mixture,  he  was  attacked  with 
such  a  fit  of  sneezing,  that  he  was 
forced  to  get  rid  of  the  pain  in  his 
nostrils.  Not  finding  a  handker- 
chief within  reach,  he  did  not  hesitate  a  moment  to  use  the 
royal  day- shirt  in  the  same  way  as  Lord  Bugolino  had 
treated  the  royal  night-shirt. 

This  occurrence  served  as  an  excuse  for  the  conduct 
of  the  lord  steward;  and  Punchinello,  who  had  hurried 
into  the  room  at  the  noise, — as  well  as  all  the  other  in- 
mates of  the  palace, — saw  well  that  he  was  undone. 

"Sire,"  he  exclaimed,  fearful  that  the  blame  of  his 
>  xult  should  fall  upon  the  young  page  who  had  aided  him 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


in  playing  off  the  trick,  "  there  is  only  one  guilty  person—- 
and he  is  at  your  royal  feet !" 

"Let  him  be  hanged  this  moment!"  cried  the  king, 
between  two  sneezing  fits.  "Let  his  father  and  mother 
be  driven  from  the  palace,  and  his  donkey  drowned  without 
legal  process!" 


CHAPTEE    VI. 


HOW     PUNCHINELLO     DESTROYED     AN     ARMY    OF    A     HUNDRED    THOUSAND 
FRENCHMEN       WITHOUT       A       SPARK      OF       GUNPOWDER PUNCHINELLO 


1  HE  king  ordered  that  the  execution  of  Punchinello 
should  take  place  that  very  night,  by  the  light  of  torches ; 
for  no  delay  could  be  granted  in 
the  case  of  a  person  who  had 
exposed  the  royal  dignity  to  such 
a  gross  affront.  Without  losing 
any  time,  the  gibbet  was  set  up 
in  the  middle  of  the  court-yard 
of  the  palace;  the  foot-guards 
were  ranged  round  in  battle 
array;  and  behind  them  were 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO.  49 

the  people,   all  dumb  with  grief.     At  the  palace  win- 
dow stood  the  king  and  Lord  Bugolino,  eager  to  view 

the  cruel  sight.  The 
executioner,  having  fixed 
the  halter  round  the  neck 
of  poor  Punchinello,  was 
already  half  way  up  the 
ladder,  and  the  king  gave 
the  signal  to  turn  the 
victim  off.  But,  at  that 
dreadful  moment,  a  great 
noise  was  heard  amongst 
the  crowd;  and  a  soldier 
on  horseback,  all  covered 
with  dust  and  blood,  gal- 
loped up  to  the  palace. 
Stopping  beneath  the  win- 
dow at  which  the  king  was 
seated,  he  cried,  "  Sire,  I 
bring  you  the  sad  news 
that  your  army  has  been  cut  to  pieces  by  the  French  general, 
Mic-mac,  who  is  marching  against  Naples,  at  the  head  of  a 
hundred  thousand  men,  and  by  to-morrow  evening  he  will 
be  at  your  gates ! "  Scarcely  were  these  dreadful  tidings 


uttered,  when  the  foot-guards  were  seized  with  a  sudden 
panic,  and  ran  away  in  all  directions. 


60  THE  LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

"Alas!"  said  the  king,  "I  have  not  a  single  soldier 
left  to  fight  for  me  against  my  enemies.  Who  will  now 
save  me  and  my  people  from  that  general  slaughter  which 
must  befall  us  by  the  close  of  this  day,  which  I  now  see 
dawning  in  the  east?" 

"  I  will,"  cried  Punchinello,  "  if  you  will  not  proceed 
any  farther  with  this  hanging  business !" 

At  these  words,  which  were  received  by  the  multitudes 
with  the  liveliest  joy,  the  king  hurried  away  from  the 
window,  and  came  down  to  embrace  Punchinello,  whose 
pardon  he  begged  for  having  been  too  hasty  in  wishing 
him  hanged.  The  king  then  ordered  every  one  to  obey 
Punchinello's  commands  throughout  that  day,  as  they 
would  his  majesty  himself. 

No  sooner  had  Punchinello  received  this  authority, 
than  he  directed  all  the  looking-glasses  in  Naples,  of  what- 
ever shape,  great  and  small,  round  and  square,  even  to  the 
most  tiny  pocket  mirrors,  to  be  brought  into  the  great 
square  of  the  palace.  Then,  having  found  out  the  road  by 
which  the  French  were  coming,  he  had  all  the  looking- 
glasses  conveyed  in  wagons  outside  the  city,  and  hung 
them  along  the  walls  and  across  the  road.  So  numerous 
were  those  mirrors,  that  they  covered  the  entire  wall  of  the 
rampart  for  a  distance  of  nearly  a  mile  and  a  half;  and  they 
were  all  so  close  together,  that  there  was  not  room,  my 
dear  young  readers,  for  you  to  put  even  the  tips  of  your 

little  fingers  be- 
tween any  of 
them,  however 
small  those  little 
fingers  may  be. 
Punchinello  then 
placed  along  the 
outer  edge  of  the 
moat  beneath  the 
walls,  a  thousand 


THE   LIFE   OF   PUNCHINELLO. 


51 


caudles  with  good  long  wicks,  ready  to  be  lighted  in  a 

moment.  These  pre- 
parations being  com- 
plete, Punchinello  and 
thirty  men,  all  holding 
lighted  candles  in  their 
hands,  stationed  them- 
selves along  the  ram- 
parts, to  await  the 
coming  of  the  enemy. 
As  soon-  as  it  was  night, 
the  great  French  army 
reached  a  hill  near  Na- 
ples, and  halted  awhile 
to  breathe,  in  case  of 
an  attack.  General 
Mic-mac,  the  French 
commander,  ordered  his 
spy-glass  to  be  brought 

to  him,  and, "looking  towards   the  plain  where  he  supposed 

Naples   to    be    situated,    he 

began  to  spy  right  and  left; 

but  as  it  was  pitch  dark,  he 

could  not  see  any  thing. 

At  that  moment  Punchi- 
nello, who  knew  by  the  sound 

of  arms  that  the  enemy  were     ^ 

drawing  near,  gave  a  signal    «_T 

to  his  men;  and  they  imme-     v- 

diately  lighted  all  the  candles     .' 

along  the  edge  of  the  moat,  by 

means   of  long   poles  which 

they  thrust  over  the  rampart. 

Startled  by  this  sudden  illu- 
mination,   General    Mic-mac 

called  for  his  lieutenant  in     _          =    -— A 


52  THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

a  loud  tone: — "Come  hither,  Colin  Tampon,"  said  he; 
"there  are  our  enemies,  lighting  the  lamps  in  their  watch- 
towers." 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  answered  Colin  Tampon ;  "  I  see  the 
Neapolitan  army  very  plainly." 

But,  dear  readers,  what  he  saw  was  nothing  more  nor 
less  than  the  French  soldiers  themselves,  infantry  and 
cavalry,  reflected  in  the  looking-glasses  with  which  the 
walls  were  covered.  "Well,  upon  my  honour!"  cried 
General  Mic-mac,  looking  more  attentively  than  ever 
through  the  spy -glass,  "  they  are  numerous  enough !  But 
what  astonishes  me  is,  that  so  large  an  army  makes  so  little 
noise  !  What  order !  what  discipline  !  Ah  !  what  do  I 
see?  The  Neapolitan  general  is  quizzing  me  through  a 
spy-glass !  Oh  !  the  rascal !  He  has  had  the  impudence 
to  dress  himself  like  me !  But,  how  dreadfully  ugly  he  is!" 
This  was  a  good  joke,  my  dear  readers,  because  General 
Mic-mac  was  taking  his  own  shadow  all  the  time  for  the 
Neapolitan  commander. 

"  Let  me  have  a  look,"  cried  Colin  Tampon,  taking  the 
spy-glass  in  his  turn.  "What  did  you  say,  general? 
Why  that  impudent  commander,  who  is  quizzing  us,  is 
exactly  like  me!" 

"  No  such  thing  ! "  said  General  Mic-mac,  once  more 
putting  the  telescope  to  his  eye.  "He  is  like  me,  I 
tell  you." 

"  And  I  say  that  he  is  like  me,"  exclaimed  Colin  Tam- 
pon, getting  into  a  rage. 

"Like  you,  insolent  fellow!"  cried  the  general  draw- 
ing his  sword.  And  those  two  great  chiefs  would  have 
fallen  together  by  the  ears,  if  at  that  moment  Punchinello 
and  his  thirty  men  had  not  begun  to  shout,  and  then  to 
blow  trumpets  with  all  their  might. 

"Attention!  To  arms!"  cried  the  French  general, 
immediately  forgetting  his  quarrel  with  Colin  Tampon ; 
"  The  enemy  are  advancing!  March — and  at  them !"  Then 


THE   LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO.  53 

eeeing  the  reflection  of  his  own  army  in  the  looking- 
glasses,  he  exclaimed,  "They  are  coming — they  are 
coming  !  March  forward  in  double  quick  time  !  Let  the 
trumpets  sound!  And  you,  my  brave  cavalry,  gallop!" 

In  obedience  to  this  order,  the  French  horse-soldiers 
rushed  headlong  towards  the  town,  followed  by  the  in- 
fantry. The  nearer  they  came  to  the  ramparts,  the  more 
vivid  grew  the  reflection  in  the  mirrors,  and  consequently 
the  nearer  seemed  the  enemy.  On,  on  went  the  French 
troops, — frightened  themselves  at  the  fierce  gestures  and 
terrible  grimaces  which  they  thought  the  Neapolitans  were 
making  at  them,  but  which  they  really  beheld  in  the  look- 
ing-glasses. On,  on  they  rush,  General  Mic-mac,  Colin 
Tampon,  and  all — as  fast  as  their  legs  would  carry  them. 
And  now  they  have  reached  the  walls:  they  fancy  them- 
selves close  to  their  enemies — they  raise  their  weapons  to 
attack  them — but,  ah  !  away  they  go — horses  and  men — 
one  over  the  other — all  tumbling  headlong  amongst  the 
lighted  candles,  and  over  into  the  moat  which  was  full 
of  water ! 

The  hundred  thousand  Frenchmen  were  every  one 
drowned ;  and  you  may  suppose,  my  dear  young  readers, 
how  cordially  the  people  of  Naples  received  Punchinello 
when  he  came  down  from  the  ramparts.  "Behold  our 
deliverer!"  they  cried  in  all  directions;  "  long  live  Punchi- 
nello!" 

In  the  meantime  the  king,  owing  to  the  popularity 
.  l  of  Punchinello,  was  suddenly 
seized  with  a  dreadful  fit  of 
jealousy :  he  thanked  him  coldly 
for  his  services,  and  then  shut 
himself  up  in  his  private  room 
with  Lord  Bugolino.  Those 
two  envious  persons  laid  a  plot 
to  get  rid  of  Punchinello  by 
means  of  poison ;  and  this  was 
to  be  done  the  very  next  morning,  by  mixing  the  drug 


THE  LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


with  some  chocolate  and  cream,  of  which  poor  Punchinello 

was  very  fond. 

Fortunately  for  our  little  friend  the  princess  overheard 

all  that  passed ;  and  she  hastened,  as  quickly  as  her  light 
feet  could  take  her,  to  the  chamber 
of  the  page,  to  whom  she  owed  all 
her  present  happiness.  When  Punch- 
inello learnt  the  sad  tale,  he  was 
almost  broken-hearted  at  such  base 
ingratitude,  and  let  a  tear  fall  upon 
the  hand  of  the  good  princess,  who 
was  not  angry  with  him  for  it, 
then,  stopping  only  a  few  minutes 
to  embrace  his  father,  his  mother, 

and  his  beloved  donkey,  he  went  that  night  secretly  on 

board  a  Spanish  ship,  that  was  bound  for  England. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

THE  DREADFUL  DANGER  WHICH  PUNCHINELLO  INCURRED  DURING  THE 
VOYAGE — HOW  HE  ESCAPED  FROM  IT — HIS  INTERVIEW  WITH  A  TURKISH 
PIRATE. 

A  HE  sailors  on  board  the  Spanish  ship,  not  having  the  same 
motives  for  treating  Punchinello  with  | 

civility  as  the  good  people  of  Naples, 
soon  began  to  make  game  of  him  on 
account  of  his  deformity  and  his  two 
humps.  The  captain,  who  was  very 
ignorant  of  his  duty,  and,  like  many 
stupid  persons,  ill-natured  into  the 
bargain,  could  not  lose  so  good  an 
opportunity  of  having  some  fun;  he, 
therefore,  began  by  asking  Punchi- 
nello if  he  did  not  mean  to  ease  him- 
self of  some  of  his  luggage,  pointing  ^ 
at  the  same  time  to  the  humps. 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO.  65 

Punchinello  replied,  with  a  smile,  that  he  made  it  a 
rule  always  to  carry  his  baggage  about  with  him,  for  fear 
that  any  one  should  steal  it. 

The  captain  retorted  by  saying,  that  Punchinello  was 
quite  right  to  go  to  England,  where  handsome  men  were 
a  great  deal  thought  of,  and  where  he  was  certain  to  cap- 
tivate the  heart  of  some  princess. 

Punchinello  declared,  that  he  was  not  going  to  England 
on  that  account,  but  because  he  had  heard  that  the  English 
looked  upon  those  persons  as  very  ignorant  who  made 
game  of  their  fellow-creatures.  Having  said  this,  he  turned 
on  his  heel  and  went  to  his  cabin,  leaving  the  captain  quite 
sulky  and  ashamed  of  himself. 

Early  next  morning,  when  Punchinello  went  upon  deck 
to  see  the  sun  rise,  he  met  the  captain,  who  pushed  him 
rudely  away,  saying,  "  Go  back  to  bed :  you  can't  come 
here  when  I  'm  busy  in  giving  orders." 

Punchinello  declared,  that  so  far  from  wishing  to  get 
in  the  captain's  way,  he  meant  to  make  himself  useful; 
and,  to  begin,  he  warned  the  captain  that  a  dreadful  storm 
would  soon  come  on. 

"  You  are  a  pretty  fellow,"  cried  the  captain,  "  if  you 
think  to  teach  me  my  duty." 

"  As  you  please,"  said  Punchinello ;  "  but  if  you  do 
not  take  my  advice,  the  vessel  will  be  wrecked." 

The  captain  only  laughed  at  the  humpback's  prophecy, 
and  was  amusing  himself  at  the  poor  little  fellow's  expense, 
when  the  wind  suddenly  changed,  the  waves  rose  moun- 
tains high,  and  the  ship  began  to  dance  up  and  down  like 
a  shuttle-cock.  Punchinello  then  approached  the  captain, 
who  was  quite  frightened  at  the  storm, — for  those  who  are 
cruel  towards  the  weak,  are  always  cowards  in  the  face  of 
danger, — and  said  to  him  very  coolly,  "  I  told  you,  sir,  that 
you  would  be  wrecked." 

The  captain  flew  into  a  dreadful  rage ;  and,  instead  of 
placing  his  vessel  in  a  state  to  weather  the  storm,  he 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


thought  only  of  punishing  Punchinello  for  having  made 
him  look  silly  before  his  men. 

"  Wicked  humpback ! "  he  cried,  "  if  I  must  be  wrecked, 
you  shall  be  drowned  first !  And  it  will  serve  you  right ; 
for  you  must  have  dealings  with  the  Evil  One  to  be  able  to 
foresee  a  tempest,  when  I,  who  have  been  a  sailor  for  five- 
and -twenty  years,  never  thought  that  it  was  coming.  Now, 
my  lads,"  he  continued,  turning  towards  his  affrighted  crew ; 
^^ /-/...  ,  "it  is  this  vile  hump- 

back, this  wizard,  that 
has  brought  the  tempest 
upon  us.  Let  us  throw 
him  into  the  sea!" 
"Yes,  overboard  with 
H  him ! "  shouted  the  crew. 
And,  in  a  moment,  poor 
Punchinello  was  hoisted 
over  the  ship's  side,  and 
suspended  between  hea- 
ven and  ocean.  In  that 
desperate  state  he  did 
not  lose  his  presence  of  mind. 

"  Shal-la-ballah !  my  good  fellows,"  he  exclaimed,  "  you 
will  not  have  much  time  to  make  yourselves  merry  with 
my  defith;  for  I  see  in  the  distance  a  certain  somebody 
who  will  soon  punish  you  for  your  conduct  to  me." 

All  eyes  were  now  turned  towards  the  point  which 
Punchinello  indicated;  and  at  the  distance  of  about  a 
mile  they  saw  the  sails  of  a  pirate  vessel. 

"Alas!"  cried  the  captain,  "  we  shall  all  be  stuck  upon 
spikes !"  and,  throwing  himself  upon  the  deck,  he  rolled 
about  whimpering  like  a  child. 

"  My  good  friends,"  said  Punchinello,  "  your  captain  id 
a  dreadful  coward.  If  you  were  not  going  to  drown  me,  I 
could  save  you  from  the  pirate  without  even  firing  a  pistol, 
as  I  know  the  Turkish  language  well." 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


57 


At  these  words  the  sailors  replaced  Punchinello  on  the 

deck,  and  throwing  themselves  on  their  knees  around  him, 

implored  him  to  for- 
get the  past,  and  not 
to  leave  so  many  poor 
men,  who  had  large 
families  at  home,  to 
the  barbarity  of  the 
Turks.  As  for  the 
captain,  they  tied  him 
hands  and  feet,  and 
begged  Punchinello 
to  take  the  post  of 
that  cowardly  fellow. 

Thus  is  it,  my  dear  children,  that,  sooner  or  later,  virtue 

and    knowledge    reach    their 

proper  place  in  the  world,  and 

obtain  their    reward  at    the 

hands  of  men. 

Punchinello    ordered    the 

sailors   to   carry   the    captain 

down  into  the  hold,  so  that  his 

piteous  moans  might   not   be 

heard.     He  then  went  to  his 

cabin,  and  dressed  himself  like 

a  Turk,  which  gave  him  the 

most  comical  appearance  in  the 

world.      He    had,   moreover, 

sprinkled  his   clothes  with  a 

liquid,  the  smell  of  which  made 

every   one    around    him  feel 

sick;   and,   having  thus  pre- 
pared himself,  he  leapt  into  a 

boat,  which  very  soon  put  him 

on  board  the  pirate  vessel.      At  sight  of  this  extraor- 
dinary being,  in  a  Turkish  costume,  and  smelling  so  very 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


disagreeably,  the  corsairs,  who  held  their  noses,  could  not 

help  feeling  greatly  surprised. 

"It  is  nothing,"  exclaimed 
Punchinello;  and,  moving  on, 
he  at  length  arrived  in  pre- 
sence of  the  pacha  who  com- 
manded the  pirate  ship. 
"  Salamalek,  my  lord  pacha," 
said  Punchinello,  speaking 
in  the  Turkish  language. 
"  By  Mahomet !"  murmured 
the  pacha,  holding  his  nose, 
"th  ere  is  a  very  strange  sm  ell." 
"  Oh !  it  is  nothing  at  all,"  exclaimed  Punchinello. 

"Friend  pacha,  I 

was   made   a  pri- 
soner by  those  vile 

Spaniards,    whose 

vessel  I  hope  you 

intend  to  take.     I 

have  had  the  good 

luck     to     escape, 

and " 

"  But,  my  dear 

humpback,"  inter- 
rupted the  pacha, 

"  what     diabolical 

smell  is  this?" 
"  It  is  nothing 

at  all,   I  can   as- 
sure you,"  returned 

Punchinello.      "  I  was  informing  you,  that  I  had  the  good 

luck  to  escape,  and " 

"  But  you  smell  dreadfully  bad,"  again  interrupted  the 

pacha. 

"It   is  nothing,"  once  more  observed    Punchinello. 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO.  69 

"  I  escaped  from  those  Spaniards,  friend  pacha,  and  I 
hope " 

"By  my  beard!"  quoth  the  Turkish  chief,  "between 
you  and  me,  young  man,  you  are  really  unbearable  with 
this  smell." 

" It  is  nothing,"  said  Punchinello. 

"  Nothing ! "  exclaimed  the  pacha ;  "  I  can  put  up  with 
it  no  longer.  In  one  word,  you  poison  me !" 

"  It  is  nothing,  I  assure  you,"  returned  Punchinello ; 
"  it  is  only  the  plague  !  " 

"  The  plague !"  cried  the  pacha,  stopping  his  nose  more 
firmly  than  before :  "the  plague!" 

"  Yes,  my  dear  pacha,"  said  Punchinello ;  "  it  is  only 
the  plague.  Nothing  more,  I  can  assure  you.  All  the 
sailors  on  board  the  Spanish  ship  are  dying  of  it ;  so  that 
you  will  not  have  the  least  difficulty  in  taking  the  vessel ! " 

"  By  Mahomet !  "  exclaimed  the  pacha,  "  I  will  have 
nothing  to  do  with  either  you  or  the  vessel,  plaguy  little 
humpback  that  you  are  !  Off  with  you  !  Throw  him  into 
his  boat !  The  rascal  has  got  the  plague !  Make  all  sail 
to  get  away,  my  lads :  the  Spanish  ship  is  plague-stricken ! " 

Scarcely  had  the  Turkish  chief  uttered  these  words,  ere 
Punchinello  had  gained  the  boat,  which  very  soon  con- 
veyed him  back  to  the  Spanish  vessel,  where  he  was 
received  with  transports  of  joy :  for  the  pirates  were 
already  sailing  away  with  all  their  canvas  spread,  and 
were  soon  out  of  sight. 

Punchinello,  after  a  fine  voyage,  brought  the  ship  into 
Portsmouth  harbour;  and  the  poor  Spanish  sailors,  who  had 
discovered  in  him  as  much  kindness  of  heart  as  intelligence, 
wept  when  they  took  leave  of  him. 


CHAPTER   VIIL 


IV  TTHICH  THE  GREAT  BtACK.  CAT  APPEARS  ONCE  MORE— PUNCHINELLO** 
JOURNEY — WHAT  HAPPENED  TO  HIM  ON  HOUNSLOW  HEATH. 

JL  HE  moment  Punchinello  had  landed  at  Portsmouth,  he 
resolved  to  buy  a  horse  on  which  he  might  ride  straight  to 
London;  for  he  was  in  a  violent  hurry  to  reach  that 
famous  city.  At  the  very  inn  where  he  stopped,  he  met 
with  a  good  horse,  full  of  spirit,  and  that  could  gallop  with 
any  other  horse  in  the  world.  While  Punchinello  was 

standing  in  the 
yard  bargain- 
ing with  the 
landlord,  a  huge 
black  cat  came 
and  rubbed  it- 
self against  his 
legs,  mewing 
gently  all  the 
time. 

"Is   that  your 
fine  cat?  "asked 
Punchinello. 
"  Yes,        good 
stranger,"    an- 
swered the  Bo- 
niface,  who   was   a  roguish  kind  of  fellow. 
"  He  is  very  handsome,"  said  Punchinello. 
"  He  is  my  best  postilion,"  returned  the  landlord,  rattling 
in  his  pocket  the  money  which  the  humpback  had  just  paid 
him. 

"  I  really  don't  understand  you,  my  good  man,"  said 
Punchinello.     "  Explain  yourself." 

"  I  mean  that  this  cat  knows  the  road  to  London  as  well 


THE    LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO. 


61 


as   anybody.     I  often  give  him  as  a  guide  to  people 
going  that  way;    and  they 
have    been    quite   delighted 
with  him." 

"  Oh  !  since  that  is  the 
case,"  said  Punchinello,  "I 
will  take  him  with  me,  if 
only  for  the  purpose  of  see- 
ing how  far  you  are  a  rogue." 
He  then  paid  for  the  hire 
of  the  cat,  as  he  had  paid  for  the  purchase  of  the  horse ; 
and  leaping  upon  the  latter,  he  galloped  off  at  a  brisk  pace. 

Away,  away  went  Punchinello  as  hard  as  he  could  go ; 
while    the   cat  ran    onwards    in    front  with  wonderful 


f  A 


;  Well,  that  is  certainly  a  most  singular  animal,"  said 
Punchinello. 

But  in  a  short  time  his  surprise  was  changed  into  alarm, 
when  he  observed  that  the  cat  every  moment  went  quicker 
and  quicker,  and  that  the  horse  followed  as  if  bewitched. 

..       .  _       •      ~ 


Punchinello  tried  to  check  the  speed  of  the  animal  on 
which  he  rode ;  but  all  in  vain.     The  cat  and  the  horse 


62  THE  LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

seemed  to  be  both  mad.  In  a  short  time  ihe  traveller  saw 
the  trees,  houses,  towns,  and  steeples  pass  by  like  things 
in  a  dream ;  while  the  people  cried  out  in  astonishment, 
"  Stop  !  stop ! "  But  before  even  the  words  were  uttered, 
cat,  horse,  and  rider  were  out  of  sight ! 

"  Who  can  he  be  ? "  asked  the  country  people  one  of 
another. 

"Shal-la-ballah!"  cried  Punchinello,  "friend  cat! 
little  darling !  sweet  puss !  do  stop  !  sha'n't  we  dine  any- 
where ?  What  can  it  all  mean  ?  Why  do  you  go  at  this 
rate?  Holla!  Shal-la-ballah!  Pray  let  us  stop !" 

But  all  these  appeals  only  served  to  make  the  cat  go 
the  more  quickly;  and  Punchinello  continued  to  cleave 
the  air,  holding  himself  on  one  side  in  order  to  breathe. 
Listen,  my  dear  children,  to  the  end  of  this  strange  adven- 
ture. At  nightfall,  the  great  cat,  the  horse,  and  Punch- 
inello reached  Hounslow  Heath  in  the  same  rapid  manner ; 
when  the  entire  party  were  suddenly  swallowed  up  in  the 
earth,  disappearing  as  if  by  magic. 


CHAPTER   IX, 

SHOWING  WITH  WHAT  KIND  OF  PEOPLE  PUNCHINELLO  FOUND  HIMSELPJ 
AND  HOW  HE  STUCK  THEM  ALL  ON  A  SPIT  IN  THE  MIDST  OF  THEIR 
DIVERSIONS. 

JN  the  middle  of  Hounslow  Heath,  and  at  the  very  spot 
where  Punchinello  had  been  swallowed  up,  there  was  a 
large  trap-door  that  moved  upon  an  axis  or  pivot ;  so  that 
with  the  least  pressure  the  trap-door  gave  way:  and  it 
only  required  a  person  to  place  his  foot  on  either  side  of  it, 
in  order  to  be  swallowed  up  that  moment. 

Punchinello  and  his  horse  had  fallen,  neck  and  heels, 
amongst  about  thirty  people,  whose  faces  were  almost 
entirely  covered  with  hair.  Besides  wearing  plumed  hats 


THE   LIFE   OF   PUNCHINELLO.  63 

slouched  nearly  down  to  their  mustachoes,  their  legs  were 
buried  in  boots  that  came  up  to  their  waists.     Add  to  sili 

this,  a  fierce  aspect,  and 
the  fact  of  their  being 
armed  to  the  very  teeth, 
and  you  may  then  easily 
imagine  how  terrible 
this  band  of  robbers 
looked  by  the  light  of 
twenty  torches. 
"Good  evening,  gen- 
tlemen," said  Punchi- 
nello, who  came  head 
foremost  into  the  midst 
of  that  amiable  com- 
pany. 

"Hurrah!  you  are  wel- 
come, Master  Punchi- 
nello," exclaimed  the 
robbers,  laughing;  for 
such  they  really  were. 
"  Call  me  Punch,  if  you  please,"  said  our  humpbacked 
friend ;  "  for  now  that  I  am  in  England,  I  mean  to  stay 
here,  and  make  myself  and  my  name  quite  English,  I  can 
assure  you." 

"  Hurrah  ! "  again  shouted  the  robbers.  "  Welcome, 
worthy  Punch ! " 

The  chief  of  the  band  now  came  towards  Punch  (for 
so  we  must  call  him  in  future,  since  he  has  expressed  his 
desire  to  shorten  his  Neapolitan  into  an  English  name). 
This  chief  was  called  Captain  Griffinhoof :  a  large  black 
patch  covered  one  of  his  eyes  and  half  that  side  of  his 
face ;  and,  as  if  this  were  not  enough  to  please  him,  the 
dreadful  man  had  a  nose  so  ridiculously  long  that  he  could 
not  help  looking  at  it. 

«  Master  Punch,"  said  Captain  Griffinhoof,  "  we  wanted 


64  THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

amongst  us  a  clever  fellow,  and  we  know  you  well  by 
name.  That  is  why  I  sent 
my  great  cat,  Black-skin, 
and  one  of  our  band,  who 
acted  as  the  landlord,  to 
Portsmouth,  for  the  purpose 
of  getting  you  into  our  com- 
pany. I  hope  you  will  stay 
with  us  ;  because  if  you  re- 
fuse, I  shall  be  oblied  (with 


"  I  know  myself  so  well  as 
to  feel  convinced  that  I 
should  be  worth  nothing 
boiled,  "  said  Punch  :  "  I  am  therefore  yours,  gentlemen, 
without  another  word." 

"  Give  us  your  hand,  then,"  cried  Griffinhoof,  "  and 
follow  me." 

The  robbers  then  left  the  little  platform  which  was 
beneath  the  trap-door,  and  began  to  descend  into  the  sub- 
terranean cavern,  by  means  of  a  sloping  path,  so  steep  that 
Punch  was  scarcely  able  to  keep  his  legs.  On  reaching 
the  bottom  of  that  neck-breaking  road,  which  was  at  least 
five  hundred  feet  long,  Punch,  arm-in-arm  with  Captain 
Griffinhoof,  entered  a  row  of  caverns  into  which  the  sun 
never  shone,  and  which  were  lighted  day  and  night  by 
lamps  hung  to  the  roof.  It  was  there  that  this  band  of 
robbers  lived  ;  and  consumed  in  a  riotous  manner  the  pro- 
duce of  their  depredations.  Punch,  in  spite  of  the  civility 
with  which  he  was  treated,  soon  saw  that  he  was  always 
watched,  and  that  he  must  not  think  of  escaping  from  the 
dreadful  place  by  ordinary  means,  unless  he  was  prepared 
to  leave  his  skin  behind  him.  He  passed  the  night  in 
thinking  of  a  bold  plan  by  which  he  might  get  away,  and 
resolved  to  brave  a  thousand  deaths  rather  than  stay  there. 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO.  65 

That  very  evening  Captain  Griffinhoof  was  obliged  to 
go  out  of  the  cave  on  business ;  and  as  he  took  with  him 
about  ten  of  his  men,  our  hero  thought  the  opportunity  a 
good  one  for  the  bold  plan  which  he  had  formed ;  he  there- 
fore resolved  not  to  put  it  off. 

On  the  following  morning,  as  soon  as  they  were  up  and 
dressed,  the  robbers  placed  Punch  amongst  them  at  table, 
where  they  began  to  eat  and  drink  like  gluttons  and  drunk- 
ards as  they  were.  When  Punch  saw  that  they  were 
warm  with  their  wine,  he  said,  "  Well,  upon  my  word, 
gentlemen,  you  lead  a  charming  life  here !  but  I  must 
confess,  that  after  these  feasts  I  greatly  regret  the  loss  of 


the  game  of  play,  which  aided  the  digestion  so  well  at  the 
court  of  Naples." 

"  And  what  was  that  ?  "  asked  every  one  of  the  band. 

"  I  mean,"  said  Punch,  "  '  the  game  of  railroad.'  *  No- 
thing is  more  easy.  It  consists  only  of  running  down  a 

*  It  is  therefore  clear  that  Punch  was  the  first  who  imported  the 
idea  of  Railroads  into  England. — Translator. 


66 


THE  LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


very  sloping  path,  in  little  carts  which  roll  in  a  straight 
line  by  means  of  grooves,  or  of  pieces  of  iron  fixed  on  each 
side  of  the  road ;  so  that,  in  either  way,  the  wheels  must 
run  properly.  Now  nothing  would  be  more  easy  than  to 
arrange  every  thing  fit  for  the  game  on  that  sloping  path 
by  which  I  came  down  here  yesterday." 

"  By  my  whiskers  ! "  cried  the  robbers  on  all  sides,  as 
they  jumped  up  from  the  table ;  "  what  a  clever  fellow  this 
humpback  is !  Comrades,  to  work !  You  must  help  us, 
Punch.  In  a  couple  of  hours  we  will  begin  the  game." 
And  now  behold  all  these  rogues  falling  to  in  good 
earnest,  with  hatchet,  saw, 
plane,  and  hammer ;  some 
making  little  wheels,  which 
they  presently  fastened  to 
large  boxes  that  served  as 
carts;  and  others  fixing  on 
each  side  of  the  sloping  path 
large  beams  with  grooves  cut 
in  them  for  the  vehicles  to 
slide  comfortably  in.  Punch 
went  about  from  one  to  the 
other,  looking  at  the  work, 
giving  advice,  and,  when  he 
was  not  observed,  leaping  and  capering  with  joy. 

In  a  short  time  all  was  ready.  Twenty  carts  (for 
each  robber  would  have  one  to  himself)  were  rolled  up  to 
the  little  platform  beneath  the  trap-door  on  the  heath, 
and  they  were  then  fastened  one  behind  the  other  on  the 
railroad.  By  tho  advice  of  Punch — and  to  make  the 
whole  scene  more  splendid — the  roof  and  the  sides  of  the 
cavern  were  lighted  up  with  a  vast  quantity  of  torches,  so 
that  the  place  looked  very  brilliant. 

Punch  asked  to  be  allowed  to  remain  at  the  bottom  of 
the  sloping  path,  so  as  to  have  a  full  view  of  the  gama ; 
and  this  request  was  granted.  The  robbers  even  begged 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


67 


him  to  give  the  signal  for  setting  the  train  in  motion,  by 
clapping  his  hands  together  three  times. 

This  he  did ;  and  the  twenty  carts,  each  containing  a 
robber,  began  to  descend  the  path  with  an  awful  speed. 
But  what  is  Punch  doing  now?  Suddenly, — and  just 
when  the  train  is  in  the  midst  of  its  whirling  course, — he 
takes  from  behind  his  back  a  kitchen-spit  about  twenty- 
five  feet  long,  and  holds  it  straight  out,  point  first,  towards 
the  foremost  robber.  Ah !  dear  readers,  what  fright  was 
shown  in  the  faces  of  all  those  banditti !  You  can  almost 

hear  their  cries!  And, 
behold !  there  they 
are  raving  like  mad- 
men in  their  carts, 
from  which  they  can- 
not get  out  without 
being  dashed  to  pieces, 
so  great  is  the  speed 
of  the  train!  They 
are  therefore  forced, 
willing  or  unwilling, 
to  rush  upon  the  spit! 
On  they  come — on — 
on  !  and  now  there  is 
the  foremost,  thun- 
dering down  in  his 
cart,  while  twenty- 
five  feet  of  steel  pass 
through  his  body !  The  others,  seeing  the  fate  of  their 
comrade,  made  dreadful  faces,  as  you  may  suppose.  But 
it  is  all  of  no  use:  on — on  they  come, — one  after  the 
other, — spitted  like  larks  on  a  skewer,  in  a  manner  that 
would  have  pleased  the  best  cook  in  all  Europe !  It  was  a 
fearful  death — but  one  which  such  rogues  well  deserved. 

Punch,  after  this  grand  exploit,  did  not  wait  for  the 
return  of  Captain  Griffinhoof.  He  placed  the  spit,  with 


68  THE  LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

its  novel  sort  of  joints,  in  a  cart  which  he  found  in  the 
stables  of  the  cavern ;  and,  having  harnessed  six  of  the 
robbers'  horses  to  it,  led  it  safely  out  of  the  place.  He 
then  took  the  first  road  which  offered  itself,  and  in  a  short 
time  reached  the  town  of  Brentford. 


CHAPTEE    X. 

THE    SURPRISE    THAT    WAS    IN    STORE    FOR   PUNCH    AT    BRENTFORD. 

lil  T  the  sound  of  the  cart  rattling  through  the  old  town 
of  Brentford,  the  people  were  soon  at  their  windows ;  but 
they  only  remained  there  a  few  moments,  for  as  soon  as 
they  saw  Punch  with  his  strange  show  (the  spit  of  the 
robbers  being  stuck  upright  in  front  of  the  cart),  they 
made  only  one  leap  from  their  windows  into  the  street. 

Punch  soon  told  them  how  he  had  killed  the  robbers ; 
and  those  who  were  at  first  inclined  to  laugh  at  his  comi- 
cal dress  and  ugly  person,  now  shook  him  by  the  hand ; 
for  the  people  of  Brentford  were  continually  in  fear  of 
being  attacked  by  this  band  of  robbers  infesting  Houn- 
slow  Heath. 

Punch,  anxious  to  escape  from  the  caresses  of  the 
crowd,  inquired  where  the  magistrate  lived,  as  he  was 
resolved  to  acquaint  him  with  all  that  had  happened.  But 
the  people,  having  taken  the  horses  from  the  cart,  insisted 
in  dragging  the  conqueror  of  the  robbers  to  the  house  of 
the  magistrate. 

When  Punch  entered  the  parlour  where  the*  magistrate 
was  sitting,  he  was  for  a  moment  struck  dumb;  for  behind 
the  magistrate  stood  a  person  with  a  nose  exactly  like  the 
one  which  he  had  seen  the  night  before  belonging  to  the 
face  of  Captain  Griffinhoof.  This  nose  was  not,  indeed, 
such  an  one  as  you  meet  every  day  in  the  streets,  or 
which  you  would  very  soon  forget  after  having  seen  it, 
if  only  for  a  moment ;  it  was  a  nose  that  stood  out  straight 


THE    LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO.  69 

— like  the  pole  of  a  coach ;  and  near  the  end  was  a  large 
mole,  from  which  sprouted  three 
long  red  hairs,  waving  like  a 
plume  of  feathers. 
Two  such  noses  never  existed 
at  the  same  time  under  the  sun. 
Punch  could  not,  therefore,  be 
mistaken ;  and,  in  spite  of  the 
absence  of  the  black  patch 
which  the  day  before  covered 
Captain  Griffinhoof's  eye,  he 
was  not  at  a  loss  to  perceive 
that  this  person  joined  to- 
gether the  offices  of  a  robber 
chief  and  Jack  Ketch.  For 
that  he  was  actually  the  Jack 
Ketch  of  the  county,  Punch 
discovered  by  something  which  the  magistrate  said  to  him 
almost  at  the  same  moment  that  Punch  entered  the  room. 
It  was  not,  therefore,  a  matter  of  surprise  that  the  Brent- 
ford police  had  never  been  able  to  find  out  the  robbers' 
hiding-place;  because  Jack  Ketch  had  always  been  em- 
ployed to  head  the  officers  of  justice  in  their  search. 

Punch  wisely  pretended  not  to  know  Jack  Ketch 
again ;  and  Jack  Ketch  was  very 
glad  on  that  account.  Our  hero 
gave  the  magistrate  a  complete 
history  of  his  escape  from  the 
robbers'  cave;  and  Jack  Ketch 
did  not  lose  a  word  that  was 
said,  though  he  pretended  to  be 
very  busy  playing  with  his  great 
black  cat  which  purred  at  his  feet. 

The  magistrate  was  much  pleased  with  all  that  Punch 
told  him ;  but  as  he  was  forced  to  go  to  London  that  mo- 
ment on  particular  business,  he  ordered  Jack  Ketch  to 

fnlrp  r>nrp  f\f  PnnrVh.  n.nrl  invitp  liim  fr»  rlinnpv. 


CHAPTER   XL 

SHOWS    WHOM    PUNCH    MET    IN    PRISON THE    MAGIC    TAIL — A    MEANS   OF 

ESCAPE    TILL    THEN    UNKNOWN. 

A  S  soon  as  the  magistrate  had  left  the  room,  Jack  Ketch 
said,  "  Come  with  me,  Master  Punch,  to  my  house  close 
by ;  and  I  will  give  you  for  dinner  a  beautiful  pigeon-pie, 
a  nice  hash,  and  a  bottle  of  good  wine." 

Alas !  my  dear  young  readers,  it  is  in  vain  that  we  have 
hidden  from  you  up  to  this  moment  the  weak  point  in  our 
hero's  character;  but,  perhaps,  his  liking  for  sweetmeats 
and  oranges  has  already  made  you  guess  that  Punch  was 
as  fond  of  good  eating  and  drinking  as  of  doing  good  to  his 
fellow-creatures.  Jack  Ketch's  offer  was  therefore  a  tempt- 
ing one  at  the  moment,  when  poor  Punch  was  very  hungry 
after  the  fatigue  of  the  morning. 


"With  pleasure,"  said  Punch;  and,  forgetting  all  his 
prudence,  he  went  with  Jack   Ketch  to  his  house,  and 


THE  LIFE    OF   PUNCHINELLO.  71 

eat  down  to  a  table,  on  which  the  pie,  the  hash,  and  the 
wine  were  already  served  up. 

Jack  Ketch  was  on  one  side  of  him,  and  the  black  cat 
on  the  other.  But  what  passed  at  that  dinner  we  cannot 
for  the  life  of  us  tell ;  Punch  himself  having  confessed 
afterwards,  that  he  forgot  all  about  it.  We  must,  therefore, 
suppose  that  he  drank  so  much  wine  as  to  lose  his  memory ; 
which  is  certainly  a  great  stain  upon  his  character  ! 

There  is,  however,  no  doubt  about  one  thing  ;  which  is, 
that  when  Punch  awoke  next  morning,  he  found  himself 
lying  on  straw  in  a  nasty  damp  place,  into  which  the  rays 
of  the  sun  could  only  penetrate  through  a  small  loop-hole 
of  a  window.  He  knew  directly  that  he  was  in  prison ; 
and  he  was  also  quite  sure  that  Jack  Ketch  had  sent  him 
there  to  get  him  out  of  the  Avay.  Poor  Punch  was  now 
very  unhappy :  he  was  afraid  that  he  should  never  again 
see  the  beautiful  fields ;  and,  with  his  head  leaning  on  his 
hand,  he  called  to  mind  the  pretty  cottage  in  which  his 
father  and  mother  lived,  the  kind  things  those  good  folks 
had  said  to  him  when  he  left  them,  and  the  mournful 
look  which  the  donkey  threw  on  him  when  he  bade  the 
poor  animal  "  Good  by,"  for  ever.  All  this  made  Punch 
weep  and  sigh. 

"  Who  is  it  moaning  here  ?"  suddenly  exclaimed  a  voice 
near  Punch. 

"  I  am,"  said  our  hero,  "  the  unhappy  son  of  a  fisherman; 
I  am  humped  behind  and  before,  and  am  tired  of  glory." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  asked  the  voice. 

"  Alas ! "  replied  Punch,  "  I  was  anxious  by  my  wit 
and  talents  to  make  people  forget  the  deformity  of  my 
person :  it  was  in  vain  that  I  obtained  an  entry  into 
palaces,  and  access  to  great  men;  injustice  and  enmity 
thrust  me  forth  again.  But  who  are  you,  my  unhappy 
comrade  ?" 

"  I  am  Goodman  Patience,"  said  the  voice ;  "  and  my 
business  is  to  go  about  with  a  puppet-show  to  amuse  poor 


THE   LIFE    OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


people  and  little  children,  from  whom  I  never  take  any  money. 

To  do  better  I  am  waiting  till  the  world  itself  becomes  bet- 
ter, which  must  happen  sooner 
or  later;  and,  in  the  meantime, 
I  expose  the  vices  and  follies 
of  the  world  on  the  little  stage 
where  my  puppets  play.  It 
was  this  that  provoked  the 
wicked  magistrate  against  me ; 
for  he  is  no  better  than  Jack 
Ketch  himself." 
"  By  my  nose  ! "  cried  Punch 
— but  he  was  stopped  short 
in  a  cruel  manner;  for  the 
door  of  the  dungeon  grated 

on  its  hinges,  and  the  magistrate  entered,  followed  by  Jack 

Ketch  and  the  huge  black  cat.     By  the  light  of  a  torch 

which  the  gaoler  brought  in,  Jack  Ketch  (by  order  of  the 

magistrate)  read  to  the  two  prisoners  their  sentence,  which 

was,  that  they  were 

to  be  hanged  within        r_ ; 

an  hour,  under  the 

pretext  that  they  had 

belonged  to  the  band 

of  robbers.      Punch 

cried  out  against  this 

great  injustice ;  but 

the  magistrate  walk- 
ed coolly  away,  and 

•Jack  Ketch  laughed 

in    our    poor    hero's 

face,  as  he  shook  the 

halter  at  him.  Punch 

was  furious  at  this  impudence ;  and  he  banged  the  door 

so   hard  behind  Jack  Ketch   that  the   black   cat's   tail 

was  caught,  and  cut  off  at  the  very  root.      In  a  few 


THE    LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


73 


moments  the  tail  began  to 
change  its  form,  and  took  the 
shape  of  a  rope  entangled 
in  a  strange  manner.  This 
was  the  shape  of  it.  «Ah!" 
cried  Punch,  holding  this 
wonderful  tail  in  his  hand, 
"my  dear  friend,  Goodman 
Patience,  do  you  think  that 
we  should  do  well  to  wait 
until  that  rogue  Jack  Ketch 
comes  to  fetch  us  to  the 
gallows?" 

"By  no  means,"  returned 
Goodman  Patience ;  "  but 
what  can  we  do?" 
"  I  will  tell  you,"  said  Punch. 
"Either  I  am  very  wrong, 
or  else  this  tail  is  some  magic 
tail.  Now,  I  have  read  in 
an  old  book  of  a  witch,  who, 
when  she  travelled,  had  no 
other  means  of  conveyance 
than  her  black  torn  cat's 

tail ;  and  that  all  she  did  was  to  name  the  place  to  which 

she  wanted  to  go." 

"  Let  us  try  it,"  said 

Patience :  "  it  is  proper  to 

use  the  weapons  which  for-     (   " 

tune  provides  us  with,  in     >    ^ 

order  to  vanquish  the  rogues 

who  have  confined  us  in  this    f^ 

dungeon.    Good  people  like   fe- 
us  may  surely  do  this; —  mE 

and,  besides,  we  have  no    ' 

choice."     Punch  placed  himself 
4 


icte  on  tiie 


the 


74 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO; 


tuft  of  which  he  held  instead  of  a  bridle,  and  Goodma 
Patience  got  behind  him. 

«  Are  you  all  right? "  cried  Punch.  «  Good!  We  shall 
now  see!  Off  to  London!" 

The  magistrate  and  Jack  Ketch  came  in  at  that  mo- 
ment; but  they  were  struck  dumb  in  the  door-way  on 
seeing  the  two  prisoners  disappear  up  the  chimney;  and  the 
three  red  hairs  on  Jack  Ketch's  nose  turned  white  that 
very  instant. 

CHAPTEE    XII. 


PUNCH    IN    LONDON— WHY    THIS    HISTORY,  IN   ORDER    TO   BE  QUITE    TRUE, 
STOPS    SHORT    OP    THE    USUAL    WINDING    UP. 

wCARCELY  had  Punch  time  to  observe  they  were  in 
motion,  when  he  and  Goodman  Patience  found  themselves 
in  the  middle  of  London.  It  was  a  fine  day  in  the  spring- 
time, and  all  the  streets  were  filled  with  people. 

"  This  is  a  city  where 
I  should  love  to  pass 
my  life,"  cried  Punch, 
"away  from  kings, 
lord  stewards,  and 
Jack  Ketch e's." 
"  And  what  can  hin- 
der you,  my  dear 
friend,"  said  Good- 
man Patience. 
"  The  only  ob- 
jection is,"  answered 
Punch,  "  that  I  have 
not  a  penny  in  my 
pocket,  all  my  few 
things  having  been 
left  at  Brentford ;  and,  unfortunately,  I  am  just  this  kind 


THE   LIFE    OF  PUNCHINELLO.  75 

of  person — that  I  love  to  eat  too  much  rather  than 
not  at  all." 

"  Listen,"  said  Goodman  Patience ;  "  I  have  an  idea 
in  my  head,  and  I  think  it  is  a  good  one.  I  will  establish 
my  little  theatre  in  the  streets  of  London;  and  it  cannot 
fail  to  succeed  if  you  will  be  the  chief  actor.  With  your 
wit  and  strange  appearance  (pray  forgive  me,  Master 
Punch)  we  must  gather  crowds  about  us." 

"I  have  no  doubt  of  it,"  said  Punch;  "and  I  must 
confess  that  I  thought  of  the  same  plan.  Since  I  have 
found  amongst  great  people  only  envy  and  wickedness, 
what  better  use  can  I  make  of  the  wit  which  heaven  has 
given  me,  than  by  employing  it  to  amuse  those  poor  folks 
who  have  no  money  to  spend  in  pleasure,  and  the  little 
children,  too,  who  are  so  innocent  and  so  good !  I  am  poor 
myself,  and  of  humble  birth:  the  wickedness  of  men, 
while  it  continues  so  great  as  it  now  is,  will  never  allow 
me,  I  see  well,  to  raise  myself  up  as  I  once  wished,  that  I 
might  be  better  able  to  comfort  those  who  suffer.  In  the 
meantime,  I  Avill  devote  to  the  world  the  only  gift  with 
which  heaven  has  endowed  me,  and  which  is  mine  to  use 
as  I  will.  I  will  make  people  laugh!  Then,  when  I  see 
the  rosy  cheeks  of  dear  children  expanding  into  smiles,  I 
shall  feel  happy." 

"  Shake  hands,"  said  Goodman  Patience ;  "  to-morrow 
we  will  begin." 

"One  moment,"  cried  Punch;  "I  have  a  condition  to 
propose.  It  is  that  one  of  your  puppets  shall  be  dressed 
up  as  Jack  Ketch,  so  that  I  may  thrash  him  as  much  as  I 
like,  in  remembrance  of  the  rogue  with  the  long  nose  at 
Brentford." 

"With  all  my  heart !"  cried  Patience;  "  and  I  should 
have  proposed  the  same  to  you,  if  you  had  not  fore- 
stalled me." 

On  the  following  morning  Punch  made  his  first  ap- 
pearance. I  leave  you,  my  dear  young  readers,  to  judge 


76 


THE   LIFE  OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


how  great  were  the  surprise  and  pleasure  of  the  people, 
when  there  suddenly  burst  upon  them  that  amusing  show 
called  "PUNCH."  Every  one  was  delighted  with  the 
strange  appearance  of  our  hero — his  two  large  humps — hia 
long  crooked  chin — his  hoarse  and  yet  charming  voice— 
and  the  dexterity  with  which  he  handled  his  stick !  But 
no  words  can  explain  the  joy  of  the  crowd,  when  Jack 


Ketch  came  on  the  stage,  and  the  following  conversation 
took  place : — 

Jack  Ketch. — Do  n't  you  know  me  ? 

Punch. — Oh,  yes  !  I  know  you  very  well ;  and  I  hope 
you  are  very  well,  and  that  Mrs.  Ketch  is  very  well,  and 
all  the  little  Ketches  are  very  well? 

Jack  Ketch. — Mr.  Punch,  you  are  a  very  bad  man 
Why  did  you  kill  the  doctor? 


THE  LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO.  77 

Punch. — In  self-defence. 

Jack  Ketch.— That  will  not  do  I 

Punch. — He  wanted  to  kill  me. 

Jack  Ketch.— How  ? 

Punch. — With  his  physic,  to  be  sure ! 

Jack  Ketch. —  That's  all  nonsense!  You  must  be 
hanged. 

Punch. — You  would  not  be  so  cruel  ? 

Jack  Ketch. — Why  were  you  so  cruel  as  to  kill  the 
doctor  ? 

Punch. — That  is  no  reason  why  you  should  be  cruel, 
and  kill  me  too.* 

Jack  Ketch. — I  have  come  on  purpose  for  you ;  and  1 
will  have  you  to  hang.  My  name  is  Jack  Ketch. 

Punch. — I  knew  that  before :  so  ketch  that. 

And  Punch  belaboured  his  enemy  with  such  hearty 
good-will,  that  the  crowds  were  obliged  to  hold  their  sides 
for  laughter. 

In  a  word,  Punch  found  himself  so  happy  in  England, 
after  such  numbers  of  unpleasant  adventures  in  Italy,  that 
he  resolved  to  settle  in  this  country,  Every  evening, 
however,  when  the  day's  diversions  are  over,  he  gets  astride 
on  the  black  cat's  tail,  which  he  has  carefully  preserved, 
and  hies  off  to  Naples  to  say  "  Good  night "  to  his  parents. 

It  was  on  the  occasion  of  one  of  those  nocturnal  visits, 
that  he  thought  of  recalling  himself  to  the  memory  of  the 
good  people  of  Naples,  and  to  ridicule  once  more  the  great 
men  of  the  country,  by  whom  he  had  been  so  badly 
treated.  He  went,  with  this  intention,  to  one  of  the  most 
crowded  theatres  in  Naples;  and,  covering  his  face  with 
a  mask,  appeared  upon  the  stage  between  the  acts.  The 
people  thought  that  one  of  the  performers  had  put  on  a 

*  Here  is  a  proof  how  the  ready  wit  of  Punch  never  forsakes  him. 
In  a  single  sentence  he  refutes  the  doctrine  that  man  by  law  should 
be  allowed  to  exercise  power  over  the  life  of  his  fellow-creatures.-— 
Translator. 


78  THE  LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 

dress  so  famous,  in  order  to  play  some  particular  part; 
and  no  one  imagined  that  it  was  Punch  himself.  The 
people  were  not  the  less  excited  by  the  idea;  but  their 
transports  knew  no  bounds  when  Punch  spoke.  Nosegays 
and  garlands  showered  upon  him  from  all  parts.  Next 
day  the  whole  city  was  busy  in  repeating  the  sallies  of 
the  mysterious  actor,  to  the  great  mortification  of  the 
courtiers  and  the  wise  men  of  the  college,  against  whom 
all  those  sayings  were  levelled.  Encouraged  by  this  suc- 
cess, Punch  appeared  every  evening  on  the  stage  at 
Naples,  and  amused  the  people  at  the  expense  of  their 
enemies.  Thus  is  it  that  up  to  this  very  day  he  is  thought 
so  famous  in  Italy.  He  remained  faithful  all  the  same  to 
England,  his  adopted  country.  On  one  occasion  only 
Goodman  Patience  did  not  behold  him  return  at  his  usual 
hour,  and  for  a  fortnight  the  little  theatre  was  not  set  up 
in  a  single  street  of  London.  All  the  little  children  went 
into  mourning.  Where  was  he?  At  Naples,  no  doubt! 
But  what  was  he  doing  there  ?  What  business  could  detain 
him?  On  this  point,  dear  readers,  all  we  can  do  is  to 
guess;  for  Punch  never  spoke  upon  the  subject.  Only 
when  he  re-appeared  on  his  little  stage,  it  was  observed, 
that  his  usual  gaiety  was  mixed  now  and  then  with  a 
shade  of  sorrow ;  a  wrinkle,  which  appeared  to  have  been 
traced  by  some  cruel  fate,  changed  the  placid  serenity  of 
his  countenance ;  and  now  and  then  he  was  seen  to  wipe 
away  a  tear  in  secret — thus  showing  a  strange  contrast 
with  the  humours  of  his  performance.  Every  thing,  in  a 
word,  seemed  to  prove  that  our  joyous  friend  had  passed 
from  youth  to  the  mature  age  of  manhood  by  the  common 
path — that  of  affliction. 

From  that  time  forth  Punch  insisted  that  another  per- 
son, dressed  as  a  woman,  should  appear  with  him  on  his 
litttle  stage,  and  receive  no  small  share  of  blows  until 
then  allotted  to  Jack  Ketch.  Such  a  caprice  must  appear 
strange  on  the  part  of  so  good  a  creature  as  Punch;  and 


THE   LIFE   OP  PUNCHINELLO. 


we  can  only  account  for  it  by  supposing  that  the  new 
puppet  was  meant  to  represent  some  faithless  young  lady 
to  whom  Punch  had  given  his  heart. 

On  this  head  I  heard  from  a  learned  Neapolitan  (and 


I  am  inclined  to  believe  the  story),  that  Punch  was  really 
detained  at  Naples  during  the  fortnight  in  question  by  the 
love  that  he  felt  for  a  cer- 
tain Miss  Judy,  the  daughter 
of  old  Mr.  Pantaloon,  whom 
you  have  all  seen  in  the 
Pantomimes.  Miss  Judy, 
however,  who  had  other 
admirers,  was  deaf  to  the 
sighs  of  poor  Punch;  and 
even  made  game  of  him, 
and  this  is  the  reason  why 
he  punishes  her  by  means 
of  a  person  dressed  like  her- 
self, and  whom  he  brings 
upon  his  stage. 
Here  ends  all  that  I  am  permitted  to  tell  you  con- 


80 


THE   LIFE   OF  PUNCHINELLO. 


ccrning  the  history  of  Mr.  Punch.  As  he  not  only 
appears  in  person  every  day  before  the  public,  but  also 
addresses  the  world  weekly  in  that  famous  paper  which 
bears  his  name,  and  which  so  well  expresses  the  sentiments 
of  a  mind  that  is  generous  to  the  humble  weak,  but  terrible 
to  the  overbearing  strong,  it  would  be  very  bold  on  my 
part,  and  very  unwise,  not  to  let  him  speak  for  himself  in 
future,  either  with  his  own  tongue,  or  by  means  of  his 
journal.  Go,  then,  and  see  him  in  the  streets,  dear  young 
friends,  the  first  fine  day;  or  read  his  useful  and  witty 
sayings ;  and,  in  either  case,  you  will  be  sure  to  find  me 
amongst  the  number  of  his  admirers. 


GENIUS  GOODFELIOW. 


A  LONG  while  ago  there  was  a  race  of  beings  called 
genii.  So  there  would  be  still,  if  we  chose  to  believe 
every  man  who  sets  himself 
up  for  a  genius;  but  we 
must  not  take  him  at  his 
word. 

Now  the  genius  whose  story 
I  am  going  to  tell  you  was 
none  of  your  prodigies,  or 
first-rate  geniuses.  He  was 
only  a  poor  second  class 
genius,  who  took  his  seat 
in  the  council  of  the -genii 
merely  by  right  of  birth, 
and  with  the  good-will  and 
sanction  of  the  titled  mem- 
bers. The  first  time  he 
appeared  amongst  them, — it  makes  me  laugh  to  think  of 


4  GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 

it, — he  had  taken  for  his  motto,  and  put  upon  his  little  flag 
of  state : 


aS  jiou  ottgfjt,  come  toljat  tome  may. 


And  so  they  called  him  "Genius  Goodfellow."  Ever 
since  then  this  nickname  has  been  given  to  those  plain 
and  guileless  spirits  who  do  good  either  from  instinct  or 
habit,  and  who  have  not  discovered  the  art  of  resolving 
virtue  into  a  principle.  As  for  the  nickname  of  a  genius, 
people  have  used  it  and  abused  it  times  out  of  number. 
But  that  is  no  matter  to  us. 

Now  more  than  a  hundred  miles  off,  and  long,  very 
long  before  the  Reformation,  there  lived  in  an  old  lordly 
castle,  a  rich  old  dowager,  whose  name  the  gentlemen  at 
the  Herald's  College  have  never  yet  discovered.  The 
good  lady  had  lost  her  daughter-in-law  at  an  early  age, 
and  her  son  had  fallen  in  battle.  She  was  therefore  left 
with  none  to  comfort  the  sadness  of  old  age  save  her  little 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW.  5 

grandson  and  granddaughter,  both  of  whom  seemed  to 
have  been  created  to  delight  the  eyes  of  all  who  saw 
them : — even  Painting,  which  always  vies  with  Nature, 
never  drew  such  pretty  children's  faces.  The  boy,  who 
was  twelve  years  old,  was  named  Sapphire ;  and  the  girl, 
who  was  only  ten,  bore  the  name  of  Amethyst.  It  was 
thought,  but  this  I  will  not  vouch  for,  that  these  names 
had  been  given  them  on  account  of  the  colour  of  their 
eyes;  and  this,  by-the-by,  reminds  me  I  should  tell  you 
that  the  sapphire  is  a  precious  stone  of  transparent  blue, 
and  the  amethyst  is  another  stone  partaking  of  the  violet 
colour. 


Yon  might  travel  far  and  wide  without  meeting  so 
d  an  old  lady  as  the  grandmother  of  Amethyst  and 
>phire.  She  was  really  too  good,  a  fault  which  most 


6  GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 

grandmothers  easily  fall  into,  but  one  that  rarely  makes  us 
uneasy.  I  shall  distinguish  her  by  the  name  of  Lady 
Toogood,  so  as  to  prevent  any  confusion  arising. 

Lady  Toogood  was  so  fond  of  her  grandchildren  that 
she  brought  them  up  as  if  she  had  not  the  least  regard 
for  them.  For  she  allowed  them  to  do  as  they  liked, 
never  spoke  to  them  about  their  books,  and  used  to  play 


with  them,  to  stimulate  their  pleasure,  or  revive  it  when 
she  saw  they  were  getting  tired  of  their  sports.  Now  the 
consequence  was  that  they  knew  scarcely  any  thing,  and 
if  they  had  not  been  inquisitive,  like  many  other  children, 
they  would  have  known  nothing  at  all. 

Now  it  happened  that  Lady  Toogood  had  for  many 
years  been  on  excellent  terms  with  Genius  GOODFELLOW, 
whom  she  had  met  in  her  youth  at  some  place  or  other. 
I  do  n't  think  it  was  at  court.  She  often  upbraided  her- 
self to  him,  in  their  private  interviews,  for  not  having 
had  sufficient  strength  of  mind  to  attend  to  the  education 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW.  7 

of  her  two  little  darlings,  who  might  lose  her  some  day 
or  other.  The  genius  had  promised  to  think  of  the  matter 
so  soon  as  his  business  would  let  him ;  but  he  was  at  that 
time  engaged  in  seeking  for  a  remedy  against  the  ill  effects 
of  education,  as  conducted  by  the  ignorant  pedants  and 
quacks,  who  were  then  beginning  to  palm  their  systems 
on  the.  public.  The  poor  genius  had  work  enough  on 
his  hands. 

One  summer  evening,  however,  Lady  Toogood  had 
gone  to  bed  betimes,  as  was  her  custom;  good  people 
have  such  quiet  sleep  !  Little  Amethyst  and  Sapphire 
were  ia  the  grand  drawing-room  talking  over  those  airy 
projects  which  so  often  fill  up  the  leisure  hours  of  child- 
hood, and  they  no  doubt  would  soon  have  grown  tired  of 


such  unprofitable  speculations  if  Nature  had  not  with- 
drawn their  attention  to  one  of  her  most  awful  yet 
most  common  phenomena.  The  tempest  raged  without. 


8 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 


Every  minute  the  lightning   filled  the  atmosphere  with 

flame,  or  wheeled  about  its  serpentine  flashes  against 
the  quivering  panes.  The  trees 
in  the  avenue  were  cracked  and 
split  into  shivers;  the  thunder 
rolled  along  the  clouds  like  a 
noisy  chariot  of  brass ;  evjpn  the 
steeple  of  the  church  seemed  to 
vibrate  with  alarm,  and  to  min- 
gle its  long  lugubrious  wailings 
with  the  din  and  clatter  of  the 
elements.  It  was  indeed  both 
awful  and  sublime. 
Suddenly  the  servants  came  in  to  announce  that  they 

had  admitted  a  little  old  man  drenched  with  rain,  pierced 

with  cold,  and  to  all 

appearance    dying   of 

hunger,    because  the 

storm  had  obliged  him 

to   stray  out    of  his 

road.    Amethyst,  who 

in     her    fright    had 

sought  refuge  in  her 

brother's    arms,    was    . 

the    first    to    go    to  ( 

meet  the  stranger,  but 

as   Sapphire  was  the 

strongest    and    most 

active,  he  would  soon 

have    overtaken    his 

sister,  if  he  had  not  wished  to  let  her  have  the  pleasure  of 

being  there  first;  for  these  dear  little  children  were  as 

good  as  they  were  handsome.     I  leave   you   to  judge 

how  the  stiff  and  bemxmbed  limbs  of  the  poor  man  were 

comforted  by  a  light  sparkling  fire,  and  whether  there 

was   pienty   of  sugar  and  spice  in  the   generous  wine 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 


which  Amethyst  herself  warmed  for  him  over  the  burning 
charcoal;   whether  he  made  a  good  supper,  and  had  a 


good  bed,  and  whether  above  all,  his  little  hosts  gave 
him  a  hearty  welcome.     I  shall  not  even  tell  you  the  old 


man's  name,  because,  by-and-by,  I  wish  you  to  enjoy  the 
pleasure  of  a  surprise. 

When  the  old  man  had  recovered  a  little  by  resting 


10  GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 

. 

his  limbs  and  appeasing  his  hunger,  he  became  lively 
and  talkative,  and  the  little  people  took  pleasure  in 
listening  to  him.  The  young  folks  of  that  day  were  too 
wise  to  disdain  the  conversation  of  the  old,  for  they  were 
truly  conscious  they  might  benefit  by  it  and  improve 
themselves.  But  now,  old  age  is  far  less  respected  than 
it  was  then,  nor  can  I  wonder  that  it  is  so.  Youth  has 
eo  little  to  learn  ! 

"Children,"  said  the  old  man,  "you  have  treated  me 
go  kindly,  that  my  heart  rejoices  to  think  of  your  happi- 
ness. For  I  doubt  not  that  in  this  noble  castle,  where 
you  possess  all  you  can  wish  for,  your  days  must  glide 
away  most  pleasantly?" 

Sapphire  cast  his  eyes  down. 

"  Happy  indeed  !"  answered  Amethyst.  "  Our  dear 
Grandmamma  is  so  kind  to  us,  and  we  love  her  so  much ! 
We  want  for  nothing  most  certainly,  and  yet  we  often 
feel  dull." 

"You  feel  dull!"  cried  the  old  man,  showing  signs 
of  surprise  and  astonishment.  "Whoever  heard  of  chil- 
dren of  your  age  feeling  dull,  when  blest  with  fortune  and 
intelligence.  Dulness  of  mind  is  a  disease  which  only 
afflicts  useless,  idle,  foolish  people.  Whoever  is  smitten 
with  this  infirmity  is  a  burden  to  society  as  well  as  to 
himself,  and  deserves  nothing  but  contempt.  But  to  be 
endowed  by  Providence  with  an  excellent  disposition  like 
yours,  is  not  enough,  you  must  improve  it  by  study.  Do 
you  ever  work?" 

"Work!"  replied  Sapphire,  somewhat  mortified;  "we 
are  rich,  as  you  may  easily  see  by  this  castle." 

"  Beware ! "  replied  the  old  man,  unable  to  suppress  a 
smile  of  bitterness,  "  the  thunder,  which  has  hardly 
ceased  to  roar,  might  have  crushed  your  dwelling  as  it 
fell." 

"My  grandmother  has  money  enough  to  provide  us 
with  every  luxury." 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 


11 


"The  thieves  might  carry  it  off." 

"By  the  road  you  came,"  continued  Sapphire,  with 
assurance,  "  you  must  have  crossed  through  a  plain,  which 
is  thirty  miles  in  extent,  and  filled  Avith  orchards  and  corn- 
fields. On  the  western  side  of  the  hill  which  overlooks 
that  plain,  stands  an  immense  palace,  which  belonged  to 


my  ancestors,  and  in  which  they  collected,  after  a  great 
outlay,  the  wealth  of  ten  generations." 

"Alas!"  said  the  stranger,  "why  must  I  repay  your 
hospitable  welcome  by  such  ill  tidings?  Time,  which  is 
ruthless  and  spares  nothing,  has  not  spared  the  strongest 
of  your  hopes.  I  coasted  for  many  hours  the  plain  you 
speak  of.  It  has  been  succeeded  by  a  lake.  I  wanted  to 
visit  the  castle  of  your  ancestors.  There  was  nothing  left 
of  it  but  ruins;  and  its  shattered  walls  have  now  given 
refuge  to  a  few  birds  of  night  and  beasts  of  prey.  Wolves 
contend  for  one  half  of  your  inheritance,  and  owls  for  the 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 

Ife 


other.  So  fragile,  my  little  friends,  and  of  so  little  worth, 
are  the  riches  of  mankind  ! " 

The  children  looked  at  each  other. 

The  old  man,  without  further  seeming  to  notice  them, 
thus  proceeded : — "  There  is  but  one  thing  which  pro- 
tects us  from  these  hard  vicissitudes,  and  it  is  only  ac- 
quired by  study  and  toil.  Against  this  benefit  in  vain 
the  waters  overflow,  or  the  earth  quakes,  or  the  sky 
heaves  its  bolt.  Whoever  is  blest  with  it  need  fear  no 
reverse,  so  long  as  he  preserves  one  faculty  in  his  mind, 
or  a  single  craft  in  his  hand.  The  pursuit  of  industrious 
arts  is  the  true  fortune  for  a  husband,  and  domestic  skill 
is  the  best  ornament  of  a  wife.  The  man  who  is  master 
of  a  useful  trade,  or  a  profession  of  general  interest,  is 
richer  in  effect  than  the  richest;  or  rather  he  is  the  only 
rich  and  independent  man  on  earth.  Any  fortune  but  his 
may  prove  transient  and  deceitful.  It  is  far  less  valuable, 
and  does  not  last  so  long." 

Amethyst  and  Sapphire  had  never  yet  heard  such 
reasoning  before.  They  looked  at  each  other  again  and 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 


13 


again  without  answering.  But  whilst  they  kept  silent, 
the  old  man  was  undergoing  a  change.  His  haggard 
features  recovered  the  graceful  lines  of  youth,  and  his 


crazy  limbs,  the  sound  and  robust  attitude  of  strength. 
This  poor  man  was  a  benevolent  genius  with  whom  my 
young  readers  are  already  acquainted.  The  two  children 
had  little  expected  his  visit. 

"  I  will  not  leave  you,"  he  added,  with  a  smile,  "with- 
out giving  you  a  trifling  proof  of  gratitude  for  the  kind 
attention  you  have  shown  me.  Since  dulness  alone  has 
hitherto  disturbed  that  happiness  which  nature  has  so 
freely  bestowed  upon  you,  take  these  two  rings,  which 
are  talismans  of  great  power.  By  pushing  against  the  spring 
which  opens  the  collet,  you  will  always  find  the  instruction 
it  unfolds  an  infallible  remedy  for  this  disease  of  the  heart 
and  mind.  Still  if  the  mysterious  art  which  made  them 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 


should  for  once  deceive  my  hopes,  we  shall  meet  again  in 
another  year,  and  then  resort  to  other  means.  Till  then 
these  small  presents  will  keep  our  friendship  alive,  and  I 


only  annex  two  easy  conditions  with  them:  first,  you 
must  not  consult  the  oracle  in  the  ring  without  need,  that 
is  to  say  before  your  spirits  sink ;  secondly,  you  must  faith- 
fully perform  whatever  it  shall  decree."  ' 

Having  said  these  words,  Genius  Goodfellow  departed, 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 


15 


or,  as  an  author,  endowed  with  a  more  poetic  fancy, 
would  perhaps  express  it,  he  vanished.  That  is  the  way 
these  genii  used  to  take  leave. 

Amethyst  and  Sapphire  did  not  feel  dull  that  night, 
though  I  should  suppose  they  had  but  little  sleep.  They 
were  thinking  of  the  fortune  they  had  lost,  and  the  years 
which  they  had  frittered  away  in  idleness,  and  which  were 
irretrievable.  They  now  regretted  the  many  hours  they 
had  spent  in  vain  frivolities,  and  which  might  have  proved 
both  advantageous  and  fruitful,  had  they  but  known  how 
to  employ  them.  They  got  up  the  next  morning  with 
heavy  hearts,  went  to  look  for  each  other  with  dread, 
and,  whilst  they  embraced,  tears  stood  in  their  eyes. 
After  a  moment's  uneasiness,  the  force  of  habit  triumphed 
once  more.  So  they  returned  to  their  old  amusements, 
and  were  less  diverted  than  ever. 

"I  think  you  are  growing  weary?"  said  Amethyst. 

"I  was  going  to  ask  you  the  same  question,  sister," 
answered  Sapphire ;  "  but  I  was  afraid  my  curiosity  might 
be  reproached  as  an  excuse  for  my  dulness." 


16 


GENIUS    GOODFELLOW. 


"I  declare,"  replied  Amethyst,  pushing  against  the 
spring  of  the  collet,  "  that  I  am  as  dull  as  death !" 

And  thereupon  she  read  the  following  inscription, 
neatly  engraved  on  the  inner  plate;  whilst,  on  his  side, 
Sapphire  read  it  also : — 


"  That  is  not  all,"  observed  Sapphire,  seriously. 
"What  the  oracle  in  the  ring  decrees,  we  must  punctually 
perform.  Believe  me,  let  us  try  it.  Who  knows  whether 
labour  is  more  wearisome  than  idleness." 

"  Oh !  as  for  that,  it  is  impossible ! "  replied  the  little 
girl.  "  And  besides,  the  ring  will  surely  afford  us  some 
other  resource  against  dulness.  Let  us  try,  as  you  say. 
One  bad  day  is  soon  over." 

Without  being  exactly  a  bad  one,  as  Amethyst  seemed 
to  dread,  this  first  day  was  not  very  pleasant.  They 
sent  for  the  master  and  teachers,  who  had  so  often  been 
turned  off;  because  they  spoke  in  a  language  which  seemed 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 


17 


difficult  because  it  was  strange,  but  which  at  length  appears 
pleasing  when  once  we  become  used  to  it. 

This  brother  and  sister  had  not  yet  reached  that  point. 
Twenty  times  during  each  lesson  the  collet  was  applied 
to,  and  half  opened ;  and  as  often  had  the  same  obstinate 
inscription  appeared  in  the  same  place.  Not  a  single 
word  had  changed. 

The  very  same  thing  continued  for  one  long  week, 
and  again  the  week  following.  Sapphire  could  hardly 
endure  his  impatience.  "  People 
may  well  say,"  muttered  he, 
as  he  was  scrawling  a  task, 
"  that  our  modern  geniuses 
repeat  themselves  !  And  be- 
sides," added  he,  "it  must  be 
confessed  it  is  a  strange  way 
to  cure  dulness,  to  make  us 
more  dull  than  before." 
After  the  first  fortnight  they 
felt  less  weary,  because  their 
be  interested  in  their  studies. 
After  the  first~month  they  felt  hardly  weary  at  all,  be- 
cause they  had  already  sown  something  to  reap.  They 
read  to  divert  themselves  during  play  hours,  and  even 
during  their  work ;  the  books  they  read  were  entertaining 


self-conceit 


to 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 


as  well  as  instructive; 
some  in  Italian,  some 
in  French,  some  in  Ger- 
man :  they  took  no  im- 
mediate part  in  the 
conversation  of  enlight- 
ened people;  but  they 
were  able  to  profit  by 
it,  now  that  their  stu- 
dies had  enabled  them 
to  understand  it.  They 
began  to  think ;  and 
that  life  of  the  soul, 
which  idleness  destroys; 
that  life,  new  to  them,  seemed  sweeter  than  the  first,  for 
they  possessed  much  natural  sense.  Their  grandmother, 
too,  was  so  happy  to  see  them  study  of  their  own  accord, 
and  enjoyed  their  success  so  delightedly !  I  can  still  remem- 
ber, that  the  pleasure  they  give  their  parents  is  children's 
purest  joy. 

The  spring  was  certainly  touched  a  great  many  times 
during  the  first  half  year;  in  the  seventh,  the  eighth,  the 
ninth  month  it  was  pushed  open  now  and  again;  but  in 
the  twelfth  month  the  rust  grew  over  it. 

Then  it  was  that  the  genius  kept  his  word  and  re- 
turned to  the  castle ;  for  a  genius  of  those  days  was  very 
punctual  to  his  promises.  At  this  second  visit,  he  dis- 
played rather  more  pomp,  like  a  wise  man  who  knows 
how  to  use  his  fortune  without  parading  it,  because  he 
knows  its  real  value  too  well.  He  sprang  towai'ds  his 
little  friends,  and  hugged  them  in  his  arms ;  and,  although 
they  did  not  yet  fully  understand  what  they  owed  him, 
they  made  him  tenderly  welcome  before  they  had  summed 
up  in  their  minds  what  benefits  he  had  conferred  upon 
them.  For  real  gratitude,  like  true  charity,  never  reckons 
what  it  gives  away. 


"Well,  my  children,"  said  he,  pleasantly,  "you  were 
very  angry  with  me  at  first,  for  knowledge  is  not  free  from 
dulness.  I  have  often  heard  people  say  so,  and  there  are 
learned  men  in  the  world  who  make  me  believe  it.  But 
now,  no  more  study,  no  more  science,  no  more  serious 
labour !  but,  instead  of  these,  pleasure,  if  there  be  such  a 
thing,  playthings,  theatres,  and  holidays !  Sapphire,  you 
shall  teach  me  the  last  new  step.  Amethyst,  I  beg  the 
favour  of  your  hand  in  the  first  country  dance.  I  have 
the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  you  are  richer  than  ever. 


20  GENIUS   GOODFELLOW. 

The  waters  of  the  lake  have  subsided,  after  increasing  ten- 
fold the  fertility  of  the  land.  The  ruins  of  your  palace 
have  been  cleared  away,  and  a  treasure  ten  times  its 
original  value  have  been  found  in  the  vaults  below." 

"  The  thieves  might  carry  it  off,"  said  Amethyst. 

"The  lake  may  return  and  overlay  the  land,"  said 
Sapphire. 

The  genius  had  not  heard,  or  seemed  as  if  he  had  not, 
these  last  observations.  He  had  entered  the  drawing- 
room. 

"This  worthy  man  is  very  frivolous  for  his  years," 
said  Sapphire. 

"And  very  stupid  for  a  genius,"  said  Amethyst;  "per- 
haps he  thinks  I  shall  not  finish  the  flower  vase  which  I 


grandmamma's  birth- 
day. My  master  says 
he  could  not  do  better 
himself." 

"I  should  be  sorry, 
my  good  little  sister," 
replied  Sapphire,  "  to 
surpass  you  in  any 
thing  on  that  day;  but 
I  hope  grandmamma 
will  feel  all  the  de- 
light she  can  feel, 
when  she  sees  my  six 
crowns." 
"  Still  you  must  work  to  effect  this,"  said  Amethyst ; 

"for  your  course  of  lessons  is  not  ended." 

"  And  you  must  work  to  finish  your  flower  vase," 

replied  Sapphire  ;  "  for  it  is  not  done  either." 

"So  then  you  mean  to  work?"  said  Amethyst  kindly 

and  endearingly,  as  if  she  wanted  to  solicit  indulgence 

towards  herself. 


GENIUS   GOODFELLOW.  21 

;;n       "To  be  sure  I  do," 
said  Sapphire;  "and 

rl  see  no  reason 
why  I  should  leave 
41  off  working,  whilst 
if  there  is  any  thing 
still  to  be  learned." 
"We  have  plenty 
to  do  then,"  cried 
his  sister,  jumping 
up  with  glee. 
And  so  saying,  our 
little  friends  came 
close  up  to  Lady 
Toogood,  who  was 
too  happy.  Sap- 
phire drew  near 
her  first  as  he  was  the  boldest,  and  begged  his  grandmamma 


22 


GENIUS    GOODFELLOW. 


to  let  them  work  at  least  three  years  longer.  The  genius 
who  was  amusing  himself  by  cutting  capers  and  practising 
opera  figures,  broke  into  a  loud 
fit  of  laughter,  until  his  eyes  were 
filled  with  tears  of  joy. 
"  Work,  dear  children,"  said  he ; 
"your  grandmamma  will  allow 
you,  and  you  can  see  by  her 
emotion  the  pleasure  she  derives 
from  your  application.  Work 
then  moderately,  for  too  much 
labour  breaks  the  strongest 
mind,  as  too  much  culture  will 
dry  up  the  most  fertile  ground. 
Amuse  yourselves  sometimes, 
nay  frequently,  for  at  your  age 
bodily  exercise  is  necessary,  and  whatever  relieves  the  mind 
after  labour,  enables  it  to  endure  a  new  task.  Return 
to  your  toil  before  you  feel  pleasure  grow  tedious.  In 
fine,  learn  to  be  useful  that  you  may  be  loved;  and, 
according  to  the  talisman,  be  loved  that  you  may  be  happy. 
If  there  be  any  other  happiness  on  earth  than  this,  I  for 
one  could  never  find  it  out." 


WQOB-GOWIS'S 


IN  the   Forest   of 
Lyons,  near  to  the 
hamlet  of  La  Gou- 
pilliere,  and  close  to  a 
spring  well  belonging 
to  the  chapel  of  Saint 
Mathurin,  there  formerly 
lived  an  honest  good  man, 


THE   WOODCUTTERS   DOO 


"by  trade  a  woodcutter,  whose  name  was  Brisquet,  which 
signifies  cleaver  with  the  sharp  axe,  and  who,  with  his 
wife  Brisquetta,  lived  very  poorly  upon  the  scanty  profits 
of  his  bundles. 


God  had  blessed  this  poor  couple  with  two  pretty 
little  children,  one  of  whom  was  a  boy  seven  years  old, 


THE   WOODCUTTERS   DOCK 

'» 


with  a  dark  sunny  complexion,  named  Biscotin ;  and  the 
other  was  a  fair  little  girl,  just  turned  six,  whose  name 
was  Biscotina. 


Besides  these  children  they  had  a  mongrel  dog,  with 
thick  bushy  hair,  as  black  as  coal  all  over  the  body, 
except  at  the  muzzle,  where  it  grew  of  a  light  brownish 
colour;  and  there  was  not  another  dog  like  him  in  all 


THE    WOODCUTTERS  DOG. 

V 


the    country  round  for  fidelity  to  his  master  and  his 
family.     This  dog  was  called  Bichonne. 

Now  it  happened,  during  a  very  severe  winter,  that  a 
great  many  wolves  appeared  in  the  forest  of  Lyons.    Well, 


in  that  year,  when  -we  had  such  heavy  falls  of  snow, 
and  when  the  poor  people  found  it  so  hard  to  get  their 
living,  these  savage  wolves,  and  the  severe  winter  toge- 
ther, distressed  the  country  people  in  a  fearful  manner. 
But  Brisquet,  who  went  to  his  work  all  the  same,  and 
who,  on  account  of  his  sharp  axe,  did  not  fear  the  wolves, 
said  one  day  to  his  wife  Brisquetta,  "  Goody,  I  caution 
you  not  to  let  either  Biscotin  or  Biscotina  go  out  until 
the  chief  of  the  wolf-hunters  has  arrived.  It  would  be 
highly  dangerous  for  them.  They  have  plenty  of  room 
to  run  about  in  between  the  pond  and  the  hill,  and  YOU 


THE  WOODCUTTER'S  DOG. 


know  I  have  planted  stakes  all  round  the  pond  to  prevent 


THE   WOODCUTTERS   DOG 


their  falling  into  the  water.  And  I  likewise  warn  you, 
Brisquetta,  not  to  let  Bichonne  go  out,  for  the  dog  is  too 
fond  of  gadding  away  from  home." 

Every  day  before  he  went  out, 
Brisquet  repeated  his  warning  to 
his  wife  Brisquetta.  One  even- 
ing he  did  not  come  home  at  his 
usual  time.  Brisquetta  kept  going 
to  the  step  of  the  door,  then  came 
in,  and  went  out  again,  and,  join- 
ing her  hands  in  great  distress  of 
mind,  she  exclaimed,  "  Alas  I  how 


THE   WOODCUTTERS   DOG.  29 

late  he  is  to-night ! "  Then  she  went  out  once  more,  and 
cried,  "Brisquet,  where  are  you?" 

And  the  little  dog  leapt  up  to  her  shoulders,  as  much 
to  say,  "  Do  let  me  go." 

"Down!"  said  Brisquetta.  "Come,  Biscotina,  you 
shall  go  towards  the  hill  to  see  whether  the  good  man  is 
coming.  And  you,  Biscotin,  shall  go  along  the  path  by 
the  pond,  and  mind  you  take  care  there  are  no  stakes 
missing.'  And  cry  out  as  loud  as  you  can,  Brisquet! 
Brisquet!" 

"  Down,  I  say,  Bichonne." 

So  the  children  went  on  and  on,  until  they  met  again, 
at  the  spot  where  the  path  by  the  pond  crossed  the  path 
towards  the  hill. 


"I  don't  care,"  said  Biscotin;  "I'll  find  my  poor 
father,  or  the  wolves  shall  eat  me !" 

"And  so  they  shall  eat  me  too!"  said  little  Bis- 
cotina. 

In  the  meantime,  Brisquet  had  returned  home  by 
the  high  road,  because  he  had  a  load  of  small  wood  to 
leave  with  Pierre  Packer. 


30 


THE   WOODCUTTER  S   DOG. 


"Have  you  met  the  children?"  said  Brisquetta  to 
him,  as  he  crossed  the  threshold. 

"The  children!"  said  Brisquet;  "the  children! 
heavens !  did  you  let  them  out  ?  " 

"I  sent  them  to  look  for  you  at  the  pond  and  the 
hill :  but  you  must  have  come  another  way." 


Brisquet  immediately  darted  out  of  the  house,  with 
his  sharp  axe  in  his  hand,  and  ran  first  to  the  hill  as  fast 
as  he  could. 

"  Suppose  you  take  Bichonne  with  you  ?  "  cried  Bria 


THE   WOODCUTTERS   DOG. 


31 


quetta  after  him.     But  Bichonne  had  already  scampered 
forth. 

The  little  dog  ran  so  fast  that  Brisquet  soon  loet 
eight  of  him.     And  it  was  to  no  purpose  that  the  poor 


woodcutter  shouted  out,  "Biscotinl   Biscotina!"  Nobody 
answered  him. 


32 


THE  WOODCUTTERS   DOG. 


Then  the  poor  woodcutter  began  to  cry,  for  he  thought 
his  children  were  both  lost. 

Now  after  he  had  run  about  for  a  long,  long  time, 
looking  everywhere,  the  poor  woodcutter  thought  he 
heard  the  bark  of  Bichonne.  So  he  went  straight  to  the 
spot  from  whence  the  cry  seemed  to  come,  and  entered 
among  the  trees  with  his  axe  uplifted. 

The  faithful  Bichonne  had  come  up  just  at  the  moment 
when  Biscotin  and  Biscotina  were  on  the  point  of  being 


.      ':!.  \) 


devoured  by  a  large  wolf.     He  had  thrown  himself  before 
them,  and  began  to  bark,  to  give  Brisquet  notice.    With 


THE  WOODCUTTER'S  DOG.  33 

one  stroke  of  his  sharp  axe  Brisket  slew  the  big  wolf; 


but  it  was  all  over  with  poor  Bichonne,  he  was  dead 
already. 

Then  the  wood-cutter,  with  his  two  children,  returned 
home  to  their  mother  Brisquetta.  They  were  all  glad 
to  meet  again,  and  yet  every  one  wept.  Every  eye  waa 
turned  on  poor  faithful  Bichonne,  who  lay  lifeless  on  the 
floor. 


34 


THE  WOODCUTTERS  D0<3. 


GAUCHARO 


And  the  woodcutter  du^  a  grave  at  the  back  of  his 


little  garden,  and  buried  Bichonne  beneath  a  large  stone, 
upon  which  the  village  schoolmaster  inscribed  in  Latin: — 


HERE  LIES  BICHONNE, 

THE  POOR  WOODCUTTER'S  DOO. 


THE   WOODCUTTERS  DOG. 


And  since  then  it  has  passed  into  a  common  pro- 
verb : — As  unlucky  as  the  woodcutter's  doy,  who  went  only 
once  to  the  woody  and  the  wolf  cat  him. 


THI 


CHAPTEE  I. 

AUNT   LEONARDA 


THE  four  children  of  a  rich  husbandman  of  Pau  were 
grievously  bewailing  their  father's  death  the  day  after  his 
funeral,  when  they  saw  an  old  woman  approach  the  door, 
whom.they  knew  directly  to  be  their  father's  sister. 

"  Good  day  to  you,  Aunt  Leonarda,"  they  exclaimed 
all  four  together.  "  Welcome  you  are,  but  you  come  too 
latel" 


THE  SUBTERFUGE. 


"  Alas !  my  children,  at  my  time  of  life  (for  I  shall  be 
full  seventy  come  next  Michaelmas)  a  poor  woman  cannot 
go  sixty  leagues -.without  stopping :  I  have  been  three  days 
on  the  road.  After  all,  here  I  am  at  last,"  said  she,  sitting 
down,  and  looking  sorrowfully  about  her.  "  Poor  brother ! 
he  is  gone  before  me,  and  waits  for  me  above  ;  I  have  but 
little  time  to  weep  for  him,  for  I  shall  soon  be  called  away 
to  join  him." 

"Drive  away  those  painful  thoughts,  aunt,"  said  the 
elder  boy. 

"My  children,"  continued  Leonarda;  "I  have  some- 
thing of  importance  to  communicate  to  you,  so  listen  to  me. 
Marcel,  your  poor  father,  you  know,  was  twice  married. 
His  first  wife,  Martha,  the  mother  of  Victor  and  Blanche, 
was  very  rich;  his  second,  whose  name,  was  Ligna,  the 
mother  of  Louis  and  Katherine,  was  very  poor.  Your 
father  had  nothing  of  his  own ;  so  that  the  whole  property, 


lands,  farms,  cows,  and  sheep,  ploughs,  harrows,  and  all  the 
farming  implements,  belong  to  the  two  eldest  children,  to 


THE    SUBTERFUGE.  39 

"Victor  and  Blanche,  the  offspring  of  Martha.  Ligna's 
children  have  nothing  to  claim ;  the  papers  left  with  the 
notary  will  prove  what  I  say.  However,  it  was  not 
merely  to  tell  you  these  things  that  I  came  hither,  for  the 
notary,  or  any  body  else,  could  have  told  you  all  at  a 
proper  time  and  place.  The  motive  of  my  journey  was 
this: — You,  Victor,  and  you,  Blanche,  possess  an  ample 
fortune,  you  are  rich !  Your  other  brother  and  your  other 
sister  have  nothing ;  share  your  store  with  them,  I  beg 
you ;  remember  they  are  the  children  of  the  same  father, 
and  that  if  God  has  given  you  a  fortune,  it  is  that  you  may 
use  it  well.  But  I  see  that  you  are  already  tired  of  listen- 
ing to  me,"  said  she,  perceiving  that  the  two  elder  ones, 
thinking  only  of  their  new  fortune,  had  ceased  to  attend  to 
her ;  and  the  two  others,  overcome  with  grief,  hearkened 
as  little.  "  It  is  I  who  am  wrong — I  have  done ;  and  all 
I  ask  of  you  is,  to  let  me  have  a  chamber  to  rest  in  until 
to-morrow." 

The  four  children  hastened  to  gratify  the  old  aunt's 
iesire,  and  took  the  greatest  care  of  her ;  and  the  next  day 


40  THE    SUBTERFUGE. 

she  set  out  on  her  return,  accompanied  by  one  of  the  farm 
servants,  pleased  with  the  kind  treatment  she  had  ex- 
perienced from  all  her  nephews  and  nieces. 

When  it  was  -time  to  go  to  the  fields,  Louis,  holding 
his  pruning-knife  in  his  hand,  called  to  his  brother :  "  Are 
you  coming,  Victor  ?" 

"No,"  answered  the  other;  "it  is  fit  for  you  to  work, 
and  earn  the  bread  you  eat  here ;  but  for  me,  I  am  rich, 
and  take  my  ease." 

Poor  Louis,  stung  to  the  quick  by  this  answer,  said 
not  a  word,  but  went  off  to  the  fields. 

At  the  same  time  Katherine  went  to  look  for  her  sister ; 
she  found  her  in  bed,  and  asked  her  if  she  was  ill  ? 

"  No  !"  replied  she. 

"  Come,  then,  get  up,"  said  Katherine  to  her ;  "  the 
lye  is  steeped — you  must" 

Here  she  was  interrupted  by  Blanche,  who,  in  a  shrill 
voice  repeated,  "  You  must,  eh  !  Katherine,  you  must  now 
do  the  work  all  alone,  and  save  me  the  expense  of  a  ser- 
vant. It  is  fit  the  poor  should  wait  on  the  rich ;  and  I  am 
rich,  you  know  I" 

Astonished  at  so  different  a  style  and  manner,  Kathe- 
rine seemed  riveted  to  the  spot,  she  could  not  stir.  Her 
sister  drew  her  from  her  fit  of  apathy  by  adding,  "  Well ! 
what  are  you  doing,  stuck  there  like  a  finger-post  in  the 
highway  ?  Come,  make  haste ;  I  am  willing  to  keep  you 
in  my  house,  but  at  least  you  must  earn  what  you  cost  me." 

Katherine  hurried  away,  whilst  the  tears  ran  down  her 
cheeks. 

That  very  evening  she  and  her  brother  spoke  together ; 
after  which,  they  both  came  to  the  rich  children. 

"  It  is  too  painful  for  us  to  be  servants  to  our  brother 
and  sister,"  said  Louis,  speaking  for  both;  "we  are  all 
children  of  one  father,  and  therefore  we  leave  you." 

"To  go  whither?"  asked  Victor  and  Blanche  with 
some  degree  of  concern,  to  do  them  justice 


THE    SUBTERFUGE.  41 

"  To  any  house  but  yours,  cruel  sister!"  said  Katherme. 
weeping. 

"  As  you  please,"  returned  Blanche ;  "  only  I  entreat 
you  both  to  say  in  the  village  that  it  is  your  own  wish  to 
go;  for  I  would  not  for  the  world  have  the  neighbours 
suppose  that  either  my  brother  or  myself  had  driven  away 
our  own  father's  children." 

"  Do  n't  be  alarmed,  Blanche,"  said  Louis,  taking^  his 
sister's  arm  to  lead  her  away ;  "we  shall  tell  the  truth." 

The  moment  that  Ligna's  children  were  crossing  the 
door-way,  Victor  was  smitten  with  remorse,  and  cried  out 
to  his  brother : — "  Louis,  you  are  wrong  to  be  proud ;  were 
I  in  your  place,  I  would  be  your  servant."  Then,  seeing 
that  he  went  his  way  without  turning  back  his  head,  he 
added,  "At  all  events  remember,  when  you  want  work, 
come  to  the  farm,  and  you  will  find  it." 

Louis  and  Katherine  did  not  even  look  back  to  signify 
that  they  heard  them.  Victor  rejoined  his  sister  Blanche. 


TCHE  CHILD.,  THJE  LOAF,  AND   THE   DOG. 


AFTER  leaving  fheir  father's  house,  Louis  and  Katherine 
took  up  their  abode  in  a  little  cottage  on  the  margin  of  a 
small  river  abounding  in  fish.  Louis  employed  himself  in 


fishing,  and  going  to  market  to  sell  what  he  caught; 
Katherine  took  care  of  their  home,  and  turned  her  spinning 
wheel.  Things  went  on  pretty  well  until  winter;  but 
then  the  river  was  frozen,  and  there  were  no  fish  to  be  had 


THE    SUBTERFUGE.  43 

the  thread  that  Katharine  spun  was  no  longer  sufficient  for 
the  wants  of  the  two  poor  orphans,  and  so 'poverty  and 
extreme  distress  found  their  way  into  the  little  cot. 

However,  spring  returned  again,  and  summer  came 
after ;  and  just  at  harvest  time  a  man  called  at  the  humble 
dwelling  of  the  friendless  children. 

"I.  have  undertaken  the  crops  of  this  part  of  the 
country,"  said  he  to  them ;  "  I  am  now  mustering  my 
reapers;  will  you  join  my  band?" 

"Willingly!  willingly!"  said  Louis  and  Katherine  at 
once,  delighted 'at  the  prospect  of  earning  a  little  money. 
Saying  which,  they  followed  the  stranger.  But  judge 
how  astonished  were  these  poor  children,  when  they  dis- 
covered that  the  field  they  were  going  to  reap  was  one 
belonging  to  their  brother  and  sister :  however,  they  were 
already  hired,  so  they  went  to  work.  Victor  saw  them  at 
their  task :  he  came  up  to  them,  and  observing  how  poorly 
they  were  clad,  he  said  to  them : — "  Oh !  oh !  I  see  distress 
has  brought  you  back  to  me.  I  might  send  you  about 
your  business ;  but  I  am  a  good  brother,  and  therefore  you 
may  continue  to  labour  in  this  field  as  long  as  aught  re- 
mains to  be  done." 

Then  off  he  ran,  wicked  brother,  to  tell  his  sister  of  the 
meeting ;  and  she  heard  his  story  vrithout  pity. 

The  next  day,  however,  whilst  the  reapers  were  taking 
their  meals,  Blanche  wished  to  show  herself  to  Ligna's 
children  in  the  fine  clothes  she  had  worn  since  her  father's 
death,  which  had  been  made  for  her  in  town,  for  she  had 
thrown  by  her  country  garments.  So  she  came  out, 
dressed  like  a  young  lady,  leaning  on  her  brother's  arm, 
and  walked  up  to  a  large  elm,  beneath  which  she  expected 
to  meet  her  poor  brother  and  sister ;  but  all  she  found  there 
was  a  child  and  a  dog.  The  child  was  eating  a  slice  of 
bread  and  butter ;  the  dog,  which  lay  down  at  the  foot  of 
the  child,  seemed  so  earnestly  to  begrfor  a  bit,  that  Blanche 
told  the  child  to  give  him  some.  The  child  refused. 
6 


44  THE    SUBTERFUPE. 

"  Fie,  you  little  glutton,  not  to  give  this  poor  little  dog 
his  share !"  said  Blanche. 

"  Ah,  Blanche !  Blanche ! "  said  a  voice  behind  the  eim ; 
"  what  you  say  to  that  child  might  be  applied  to  yourself, 
since  you  have  kept  all  your  mother's  fortune,  not  only 
without  sharing  it  with  your  father's  children,  but  without 
even  giving  them  any  part  of  it." 

Blanche  turned  her  head  round  to  see  who  was  speak- 
ing ;  she  saw  her  old  aunt  Leonarda,  resting  upon  her  stick. 
Without  leaving  the  young  girl  time  to  answer  her,  the 
old  dame  continued : — "  I  came  up  through  the  meadows ; 
and  when  I  saw  both  Louis  and  Katherine  so  poorly  clad, 
I  made  my  inquiries,  and  the  reapers  told  me  all — the  bad 
behaviour  of  your  brother  and  you,  and  the  noble  pride  of 
Ligna's  children,  who  refused  to  be  servants  where  they 
had  been  masters.  Fortunately,  I  am  come  to  turn  the 
tables  upon  you." 

*'  How,  Aunt  Leonarda !"  said  Victor  and  Blanche 
together. 

The  old  aunt  sat  down  on  the  bench  by  the  side  of 
Blanche,  and  beckoning  to  Ligna's  children  to  come  for- 
ward, she  said  to  them: — "I  have  great  news  to  tell  you : 
the  fortune  did  not  belong  to  Martha,  but  Ligna ;  all  the 
property,  therefore,  goes  to  her  children,  instead  of 
Martha's." 

"Are  you  serious,  aunt?"  cried  the  four  children 
together. 

"  Very  serious;  I  only  wanted  to  prove  you,"  replied 
the  old  aunt.  "  I  had  come  to  an  understanding  with  the 
notary  for  that  purpose,  with  a  right  to  restore  things 
to  their  place  in  due  season.  That  time  is  now  come ; 
Louis  and  Katherine,  it  is  your  turn,  my  children,  to  be 
masters  here.  Come,  Louis,  give  your  sickle  to  Victor, 
and  order  him  to  go  and  roast  himself  in  the  sun,  to  increase 
your  wealth;  come,  Katherine,  sit  you  here  in  the  shade, 
and  send  your  servant  Blanche  to  get  your  dinner  ready. 


THE    SUBTERFUGE. 


45 


Assume  the  masters,  my  children ;  be  proud  and  haughty ; 
it  is  your  turn  to  drive  them  away — you  are  rich  now ! " 

But  without  seeming  to  understand  Aunt  Leonarda's 
last  words,  Louis  and  Katherine  looked  at  each  other. 
Louis  then  went  and  sat  down  at  the  feet  of  Blanche,  who 
looked  down  with  shame  and  confusion,  whilst  big  tears 
were  gushing  from  her  eyes. 

"  Stay  with  us,  dear  sister,"  said  he,  "  and  let  there  be 
neither  master  nor  servant  in  this  house,  but  only  fond 
sisters  and  loving  brothers.  Say,  shall  it  be  so  ?" 


Katherine,  who  had  glided  silently  into  the  arms  of 'her 
brother  Victor,  said  to  him  at  the  same  time: — "  Let  us  do 
as  we  used  when  our  father  was  living,  Victor :  he  would 
cut  a  fine  pear  into  four  pieces,  and  all  his  children  were 
alike  and 'equal  .  Say,  shall  it  be  so?" 


46 


THE    SUBTERFUGE. 


You  are  too  good,"  returned  the  two  children  of 
Martha ;  "  we  do  not  deserve  so  much  kindness ;  we  have 
been  very  cruel  towards  you.  Do  as  we  did,  and  we  shall 
deserve  it  all." 

"  Heaven  forbid ! "  cried  Ligna's  children.  And  then 
Louis  added,  in  an  earnest  voice,  "  We  are  all  children  of 
but  one  father ;  let  us  have  one  fortune,  one  house,  and  one 
field." 

When  she  saw  this  noble  revenge,  Aunt  Leonarda 
burst  into  tears. 

"  Come,  Aunt  Leonarda,"  said  the  four  children  at 
once;  "come  and  enjoy  the  result  of  your  SUBTERFUGE." 

And  ever  since  that  day,  nothing  was  talked  about  in 
the  village  but  the  harmony  and  the  good  feeling  which 
prevailed  among  the  four  children  of  Marcel. 


ONE  morning,  in  the  fine  month  of  April,  1790,  farmer 
Hubert  called  his  son  Giles,  a  boy  about  twelve  years  old, 
and  said  to  him  :  "  My  lad,  this  is  the  cottage  in  which  you 
were  born,  as  well  as  your  sister  Cicely;  on  yonder  hill 
stands  the  church  where  I  married  your  poor  mother  who 
sits  weeping  in  that  corner  :  what  then  ?  why,  to-morrow 
they  mean  to  turn  us  out  of  the  cottage,  and  out  of  the 


48 


HONEST  HUBERT. 


village  too ;  not  because  we  have  done  any  thing  wrong ; 
no,  my  boy,  your  father  has  not  disgraced  his  grey  hairs; 
but  the  hail-storm  has  destroyed  his  crops,  and  he  has  fallen 
behind  with  his  landlord,  and  cannot  pay  his  rent.  The 
bailiff  is  severe  and  ill-natured,  but  somehow  I  think  his 
master,  the  lord,  is  not  so  bad.  It  would  be  a  dreadful 
thing,  indeed,  if  there  were  two  such  wicked  men  in  so 
small  a  hamlet  as  Gentilly.  The  Marquis  of  Gentilly 
returned  home  last  night,  as  I  hear;  so  Giles,  you  must 
put  on  your  best  Sunday,  clothes,  and  take  your  sister 
Cicely  with  you,  and  go  together  to  the  castle.  Besides, 
my  lad,  you  are  a  scholar,  and  the  schoolmaster  says,  that  if 
you  continue  to.  mind  your  book  as  you  do,  you  will  be 
able  to  read  next  year,  and  that  you  already  know  your 
letters  pretty  well.  This  is  saying  a  great  deal,  but  still  I 
do  n't  doubt  it  may  be  true.  So  then,  my  lad,  as  you  wend 
your  way,  you  will  contrive  a  neat  little  compliment  to 
greet  his  lordship  with  very  prettily ;  you  will  tell  him  that 
it  is  true  we  owe  the  money,  but  that  for  two  seasons  now 


HONEST  HUBERT  49 

the  crops  have  been  injured  by  the  hail,  that  we  only  want 
time,  and  that  we  will  pay  him,  for  we  are  honest  people. 
You  must  not,  however,  say  it  all  in  a  heap  as  I  do,  but 
settle  it  as  nicely  as  you  can,  and  fit  for  my  lord's  ears ;  so 
that  you  may  come  by  degrees  to  touch  his  heart,  and 
prevent  him  from  turning  us  out  of  our  cottage.  And 
now,  my  lad,  you  understand  what  I  mean  ?" 

"Perfectly,  father,"  replied  Giles. 

"And  so  do  I  understand  you,  father,"  said  Cicely, 
whom  her  mother  was  just  finishing  to  dress;  "and  if 
Giles  should  forget  any  thing,  I'll  be  his  prompter." 

"God  send  that^his  lordship  may  only  listen  to  two 
poor  children  like  themj"  said  the  farmer's  wife,  wiping 
her  eyes, 

"His  lordship  is  a  man,  and  a  man  is  not  a  tiger, 
Goody,"  returned  honest  Hubert. 

"  He  surely  cannot  eat  us,"  said  Giles. 

"  Take  heart,  my  children,"  said  the  farmer,  making  a 
sign  to  Giles  to  set  out ;  "  and,  Goody,  in  the  meantime  let 
you  and  I  go  and  pray  to  God  to  bless  the  mission  of  these 
poor  innocent  lambs." 

And  then  as  they  went  together  along  the  path  which 
led  to  the  castle,  said  Giles  to  his  sister  Cicely : 

1  ( What  have  you  got  there  in  your  hand  ?  " 


"  A  basket  of  nice  ripe  fruit,  and  a  bunch  of  flowers, J 
answered  his  sister,  "  to  present  to  his  lordship." 


50  HONEST  HUBERT. 

"That's  not  amiss,"  said  Giles,  "you  are  a  thoughtful 
girl ;  all  I  fear  is  that  his  lordship  w'on't  care  a  button  for 
our  fruit  and  flowers." 

"  What !  not  for  such  nice  flowers  as  these  ?  returned 
Cicely. 

"  Hush ! "  said  Giles,  pointing  towards  two  persons  at 
some  distance,  who  were  coming  along  the  path. 

"  Bless  us ! "  cried  the  little  peasant  girl,  in  a  tone  of 
surprise,  "how  fine  those  people  are  dressed;  see  how 
nicely  the  young  gentleman's  hair  is  powdered,  what  a 
neat  coat,  and  what  nice  polished  boots ! 

"  And  look  at  the  little  girl,  too,"  said  Giles  in  turn, 
"  look  at  the  fine  feathers  in  her  hat !  and  her  gown  with 
its  long  skirt  behind !  I  suspect,  Cicely,  the  stuff  cost  more 
than  yours  did." 

" How  neat,  how  pretty,  they  are  both!"  cried  Cicely. 

"They  must  be  my  lord  and  my  lady,"  said  Giles, 
"  now  's  the  time  for  me  to  begin  my  address." 

"I  rather  think,  Giles,"  said  Cicely,  these  are  the 
children  of  his  lordship,  the  Marquis  of  Gentilly,  though 
they  are  much  taller  than  they  were  the  last  time  they 
came  down  to  the  country,  about  two  years  ago." 

"  Yes,"  returned  Giles,  "  I  remember  they  did  not  visit 
us  last  year,  because  their  mother  died,  and  their  father  was 
with  the  army ;  it  was  the  schoolmaster  told  me  so ;  and 
the  children  of  a  marquis,  you  know,  never  eome  to  the 
country  all  alone." 

"Where  are  you  going,  little  girl,  with  your  fine  pears  and 
flowers?  "  said  the  little  powdered  gentleman,  chucking  Cicely 
under  the  chin,  and  then  taking  out  a  pear,  and  giving  it  a  bite. 

"  Adrian,"  said  the  young  girl  to  her  brother,  I  think  I 
know  who  they  are.  Are  you  not  farmer  Hubert's  children  ?  " 
added  she,  turning  and  speaking  to  the  little  peasants. 

"  The  same,  at  your  service,  Miss,"  replied  Giles,  look- 
ing down  abashed,  and  twisting  the  brim  of  his  hat  between 
his  hands. 


HONEST    HUBERT 


'  And  what's  your  pleasure,  youngsters?  "  said  Adrian, 
assuming  a  look  of  patronage. 

"  We  want  to  speak  to  my  lord,  your  father,  my  find 
young  gentleman,"  answered  Cicely.  « 


62  HONEST  HUBERT. 

"Say  on,"  replied  Adrian,  "it's  the  same  as  if  you 
spoke  to  himself." 

"  This  is  the  matter,  Master  Adrian,"  said  Giles:  "  we 
owe  my  lord  a  great  deal  of  money,  I  do  n't  exactly  know 
how  much  it  is ;  but  I  think  it  must  be  twenty  crowns,  or 
ten  at  least ;  father  did  not  tell  me  the  amount." 

"  Well,"  added  the  little  girl,  laughing  outright,  "  what 
next?" 

"  Well ! "  repeated  Giles,  blushing  and  stammering,  for 
that  burst  of  laughter  had  confounded  his  ideas,  "we  are 
not  able  to  pay  .  .  .  and  the  steward  wants  to  turn  us  out 
of  our  home  .  .  .  and  that  vexes  father  .  .  .  that  makes 
mother  sad ;  and  that  cottage,  you  see,  Miss  Angelica  and 
Master  Adrian,  is  the  same  where  sister  and  I  were  born,  as 
father  says ;  for  it 's  so  long  ago,  and  I  was  so  little  then,  I 
can 't  remember  it.  It  was  there  too,  hard  by,  in  the  church, 
that  he  was  married  to  mother.  In  short,  the  church,  the 
village,  and  the  cottage,"  continued  Giles,  more  and  more 
embarrassed  every  moment ;  for  at  every  word  he  spoke  the 
merriment  of  his  little  auditors  revived,  "In  short  .  .  . 
saving  your  presence  ...  the  cottage  "... 

"  We  wish  not  to  leave  it,"  added  Cicely,  coming  to  her 
brother's  relief. 

"  It  is  a  fine  cottage,  truly,  to  regret,"  interrupted  the 
little  marquis,  and  speaking  to  his  sister.^ 

"  Nay  I  it  is  not  a  castle,"  Giles  ventured  to  say,  "  but 
we  can  sleep  in  it,  and  take  our  meals  in  it ;  in  summer  it 
shelters  us  from  the  sun,  and  in  winter  from  the  rain." 

"  I  can 't  conceive  how  any  one  can  live  in  a  cottage, 
and  still  less  how  they  can  cry  to  leave  it,"  replied  the 
little  girl,  in  so  disdainful  a  voice  as  to  bring  tears  into  the 
poor  children's  eyes. 

"  If  you  had  nothing  else  though,"  returned  Cicely 
warmly,  "you  would  be  very  glad  to  keep  it." 

"  Nothing  else  ! "  repeated  Angelica,  raising  her  voice ; 
"^ou  are  a  saucy  girl,  little  one,  to  compare  yourself  to  me, 


HONEST   HUBERT.  58 

and  my  brother* would  do  well  to  give  you  a  few  lashes  with 
his  horsewhip  to  teach  you  better  manners." 

Terrified  at  this  threat,  and  still  more  at  the  tone  in 
which  it  was  delivered,  the  little  peasant  girl  screamed  with 
fear,  and  Giles  added  in  a  passion : 

"What!  my  sister!  beat  my  sister!"  said  he,  placing 
himself  before  her,  and  clenching  his  fists  as  if  to  defend 
her. 

u  And' you  too,"  replied  Adrian. 

"  Me !  if  you  like,  my  lord,  you  have  the  right  to  do  it," 
replied  Giles,  "  you  may,  perhaps,  have  the  same  right  to 
beat  my  sister,  but,  blow  me,  so  long  as  I  can  stand  on  my 
legs,  I  wo  n't  allow  it !  " 

"  Well !  Master  Adrian,  well ! "  said  a  voice  which  made 
farmer  Hubert's  children  tremble  from  head  to  foot,  for  it 
was  the  bailiff  who  spoke,  "  why  do  you  hesitate  to  trounce 
these  two  troublesome  little  fools  ?  " 

"  O  dear !  we  are  undone  !  "  cried  the  two  poor  children, 
bursting  into  tears. 

As  soon  as  they  saw  the  children's  grief,  both  Adrian 
and  Angelica  were  ashamed  of  the  fit  of  anger  which  they 
had  for  a  moment  felt  towards  two  beings  so  harmless  as 
those  little  peasants ;  they  ran  up  to  them,  Angelica  took 
hold  of  Cicely's  hand,  and  Adrian  took  hold  of  Giles's. 

"  Do  n't  cry,"  said  both  together,  "do  n't  cry,  no  harm 
shall  be  done  to  you,  that  I  promise  you." 

"  Oh  !  certainly  not,  no  harm  shall  be  done  to  them," 
replied  the  bailiff;  "  we  shall  put  them  out  of  the  cottage 
very  quietly  and  gently,  and  after  that,  out  of  the  village  as 
peaceably  as  possible." 

"What,"  said  Adrian,  "could  you  be  so  cruel,  Mr. 
Bailiff?" 

"  Good  Mr.  Bailiff,"  said  Angelica,  looking^  serious, 
"  before  you  turn  my  father's  tenants  out  of.their  home, 
you  will  wait  till  he  returns.  He  will.be  home  again  in  a 
week,  in  three  days,  perhaps  to-morrow." 


54  HONEST   HUBERT. 

"I  am  very  sorry  to  refuse  you  any  thing.  Miss,  but  I 
cannot  wait  an  hour,"  said  the  bailiff,  strutting  with  a  look 
of  self-sufficiency  in  his  robe  of  office. 

"Mr.  Bailiff!"  cried  Adrian,  with  a  flushed  face. 

"  How  children  do  change  !  "  said  the  bailiff,  "just  now 
you  were  going  to  thrash  these  little  peasants,  and  now  you 
step  in  to  intercede  for  them." 

"Just  now  I  was  wrong,  Mr.  Bailiff,"  replied  Adrian  in 
a  tone  at  once  sad  and  dignified,  "  and  I  beg  of  you" 

"  Impossible!  Mr.  Adrian ;  the  law  must  take  its  course; 
they  must  pay,  or  go  to  prison." 

Adrian  was  about  to  make  an  angry  reply,  when  his 
sister  took  his  arm.  "Nevermind,  Adrian,"  said  she,  "we 
are  not  the  most  powerful  in  this  case,  but  we  have  another 
means  to  comfort  these  children." 

"  Yes,  fifty  crowns  which  my  grandfather  gave  me  when 
I  took  leave  of  him  yesterday,"  answered  her  brother. 

"  I  have  a  trifle  more,"  rejoined  Angelica,  which  my 
grandmother  gave  me  to  buy  a  new  dress."  Then  she 
turned  to  Cicely,  and  said, — 

"Follow  me  to  the  castle,  Cicely,  and  don't  cry;  my 
brother  and  I  will  take  upon  us  to  settle  with  the  bailiff." 

"  Nor  will  you  have  far  to  go,  my  dear  children,"  said 
a  middle-aged  man,  suddenly  issuing  from  behind  the  base 
of  a  statue,  where,  without  being  perceived  himself,  he  had 
seen  and  heard  all ;  "  you  are  two  little  angels,  whom  your 
mother  when  she  died  left  to  console  me  for  all  my  cares 
and  sorrows.  Mr.  Bailiff,"  said  he,  changing  his  voice,  "you 
have  exceeded  your  authority.  As  for  you,  Giles,  you  are 
a  good  brother ;  go  home  and  tell  your  father,  that  for  your 
sake,  I  forgive  him  the  money  he  owes  me,  and  that  1  re- 
lease him  from  his  farm  rent  for  two  years  to  come,  on 
condition  that  he  shall  devote  the  money  to  your  education. 
And  do  you,  my  children,  accompany  me  in  the  tour  I  am 
about  to  make  in  my  estates.  Let  us  endeavour  to  dry  our 
neighbour's  tears,  that  God  may  one  day  do  the  same  for  us  1" 


HONEST   HUBERT.  55 

After  this  speech,  the  baffled  bailiff  withdrew  covered 
with  shame,  the  marquis  walked  off  on  one  side  with  his 
two  children,  whilst  Cicely  and  Giles  bent  their  way  to  the 
cottage. 

As  soon  as  they  got  liome,  they  related  all  that  had 
passed ;  joy  once  more  took  the  place  of  grief,  and  night 
came  on  before  these  worthy  people  had  left  off  praising 
their  noble  landlord's  goodness.  At  length  the  farmer's 
wife  said  to  her  husband: 

"  Methinks,  Hubert,  you  ought  to  go  and  thank  my 
lord  before  you  go  to  bed." 

"  True,"  said  Hubert,  standing  up,  "  what  could  possess 
me  that  I  never  thought  of  it  ?  " 

"  Are  you  going  by  yourself,  father?"  asked  Giles. 

"  Yes,"  said  Hubert.    "  Go  to  bed,  children,  it  is  late." 

He  went  out.  But  joy  has  more  power  to  keep  the 
eyes  open  than  sorrow  has ;  so  when  Hubert  returned,  he 
found  his  wife  and  children  still  up. 

"  Have  you  seen  his  lordship  ?  "  said  his  wife. 

"Yes,"  said  Hubert,  as  pale,  as  a  ghost,  and  with  a 
careful  heavy  brow. 

"  And  have  you  thanked  him,  Hubert?" 

"  Yes  ...  no  ...  do  n't  question  me,  wife,  I  cannot 
tell  you  any  thing,  good  night." 

So  saying,  the  farmer  took  up  a  candle,  and  went  into 
the  next  room,  leaving  his  wife  and  children  amazed  at  the 
answer. 


PAKT  II. 

THE  COTTAGE  AND  THE  CASTLE. 


In  1805,  in  the  heat  of  summer,  and  in  the  merry 
month  of  August,  two  country  women  belonging  to  the 
village  of  Gentilly,  in  the  environs  of  Paris,  were  returning 
thither  from  the  capital,  when  they  observed  a  young 
woman  in  black  pass  by  them,  holding  a  child  by  the  hand. 
This  meeting  by  itself  would  probably  not  have  been  noticed 
had  it  not  been  for  the  lady's  appearance ;  her  dress,  which 
at  the  first  glance,  appeared  costly,  was  torn  and  soiled  at 
the  skirt  by  the  brambles  and  the  dust  on  the  highway 


HONEST  HUBERT.  5? 

•whilst  her  handsome  face  was  bathed  in  tears ;  and  all  about 
her  excited  to  the  utmost  the  curiosity  and  the  concern  of 
the  two  villagers. 

There  was  another  point,  too,  which  puzzled  them. 
That  stranger,  whom  neither  of  them  knew,  though  they 
were  amongst  the  oldest  residents  in  the  place,  went  directly 
forward  without  asking  her  way  of  any  one,  without  look- 
ing for  it  herself,  and  with  all  the  confidence  of  long  and 
familiar  habit.  Watching  her  only,  for  they  were  afraid  to 
intrude  themselves  upon  her,  because,  in  spite  of  her  mourn- 
ful looks,  there  was  a  dignity  about  her  that  kept  them 
at  a  distance,  they  saw  her  advance  with  faltering  steps 
towards  honest  Hubert's  cottage,  and  knock  softly  at  the 
door.  Next  she  listened  to  catch  the  sound  of  the  steps 
of  any  approaching  inmates ;  but  the  deepest  silence  pre- 
vailed within  the  walls  of  the  cottage,  and  the  strange 
lady  glanced  around  her,  as  if  hesitating  how  to  act. 
Then  observing  that  the  window  shutter,  being  half  with- 
drawn, allowed  any  one  to  look  inside,  she  ran  up  to  the 
shutter,  opened  it,  looked  anxiously  for  a  few  moments 
through  the  window,  then  suddenly  uttered  a  piercing 
shriek,  and,  would  have  fallen  backward  on  the  earth, 
but  for  the  two  country-women,  who  by  that  time  had 
reached  the  cottage,  and  supported  her  in  their  arms. 

"Dead,  dead,  they  are  all  dead  then!"  said  she  to  the 
two  women. 

"  Who  are  dead?"  replied  one  of  these;  "  not  honest 
old  Hubert,  certainly,  nor  his  wife,  nor  even  his  children." 

"  But  here  is  no  furniture,  the  cottage  is  empty,"  stam- 
mered the  poor  lady. 

"  Even  so ;  but  every  day  is  not  alike,"  said  the  other 
country-woman :  "  old  Hubert,  whom  the  whole  country  set 
down  to  be  as  poor  as  Job,  went  up  to  the  castle  of  the 
Marquis  of  Gentilly,  on  the  day  it  was  put  up  for  sale. 
Perhaps,  madam,  you  do  not  know,  how  some  time  back, 
in  1794,  when  the  soldiers  of  the  revolution  were  quartered 


HONEST   HUBERT. 


in  these  parts,  and  when  many  of  us  poor  villagers  were 
turned  out  of  house  and  home  by  them,  because  we  stood 


HONEST   HUBERT. 


his  lordship,  the  marquis,  who  had  always  been  a  very 
kind  landlord  to  all  of  us,  that  his  lordship  fled  away  from 
the  «astle,  and,  as  I've  heard  emigrated  with  his  chil- 


dren;  mui  they  all  died,  as  report  says,  in  foreign  parts. 
It  was  thus  the  castle  came  to  be  sold,  and  as  I  had 
the  honour  to  say  just  now,  when  the  day  of  the  sale  was 
come,  who  do  you  think  was  surprised  ? — Why  the  whole 
village,  to  be  sure;  for  there  at  the  sale  was  honest  old 
Hubert,  bidding,  and  bidding,  and  bidding,  higher  than  all 
the  company — so  at  last  he  pulls  from  beneath  his  great 


coat  a  large  bag  full  of  gold,  pays  for  the  castle,  and  becomes 
the  owner  of  it,  as  sure  as  my  name 's  Susan.  That  is  the 
reason  why  the  cottage  is  empty.  But  old  Hubert  and  his 
Wife,  and  his  daughter  Cicely,  are  not  a  bit  prouder  for 


60  HONEST   HUBERT. 

that;  I  don't  say  a  word  about  the  son,  who  is  with  the 


army,  and  who  is  become  a  general,  or  corporal,  I  do  n't 
well  know  which,  but  something  in  a/,  at  all  events.  If  you 
desire  to  seek  their  hospitality" 


HONEST  HUBERT.  61 

"  Never!  never!"  cried  the  strange  lady,  who  was  seized 
with  a  nervous  trembling  from  head  to  foot,  "I  should 
lever  be  so  bold ! " 

"As  you  think  fit,"  replied,  the  good  woman;  "but 
for  all  that,  the  Huberts  are  a  worthy  set  of  people.  The 
father,  for  his  part,  still  goes  on  tilling  the  land,  just  the 
same  as  if  he  had  no  castle  at  all ;  dame  Hubert  is  become 
blind,  and  pretty  Cicely  has  always  refused  to  get  married, 
because  she  would  not  leave  her  mother.  Now  it  seems  to 
my  mind,  that  a  person  may,  without  shame,  knock  at  the 
door  of  such  like  people.  But,  look!  here  comes  Cicely 
herself,  added  the  woman ;  and  before  the  strange  lady  had 
had  time  even  to  guess  what  she  meant  to  do,  the  country- 
woman cried  out — 

"  Come  hither,  Cicely,  here  is  a  lady  who  was  going  to 
knock  at  the  door  of  your  old  cottage,  and  who  refuses  to 
knock  at  the  door  of  the  castle." 

On  hearing  the  name  of  Cicely,  a  young  peasant  girl 
came  running  up ;  she  was  no  longer  the  little  delicate  girl 
of  1790:  Cicely  had  grown  up;  and,  notwithstanding  her 
peasant's  garb,  which  she  still  wore,  there  was  a  certain 
dignity  of  manner,  the  result  of  her  new  education,  which 
was  observable  in  every  movement.  She  advanced  quietly 
towards  the  stranger,  and  with  the  polite  and  soothing 
tone  of  one  who  is  anxious  not  to  give  offence  by  too 
officious  an  offer  to  oblige,  she  said, 

"  If  you  are  fatigued,  madam,  the  castle  is  close  by  ?" 

"Oh!  my  brother!"  were  the  only  words  the  lady 
could  give  utterance  to. 

"Is  he  near  at  hand?  we  will  send  for  him,"  said 
Cicely. 

"  I  left  him  unwell  on  the  way,  at  an  inn  close  to  this," 
answered  the  fair  unknown,  struggling  to  overcome  her 
feelings ;  "  and  I  came  on  before  with  his  child,  who,  since 
his  mother's  death,  has  always  lived  with  me,  to  solicit 
shelter  at  this  cottage." 


62  HONEST   HUBERT. 

"Do  you  not  believe  then,  madam,  that  hospitality  may 
be  met  with  in  a  castle  as  well  as  in  a  cottage?" 

Before  the  stranger  could  reply  to  this  question,  she 
was  astonished  by  the  appearance  of  her  brother,  supported 
by  a  young  officer  dressed  in  a  splendid  uniform,  and 
coming  towards  them. 

"  Sister  ! "  cried  the  officer,  addressing  Cicely,  "  hasten 
to  the  castle,  order  the  best  bed  to  be  got  in  readiness  ;  I 
have  brought  you  a  guest,  who  though  he  declines  to  tell 
his  name,  shall  be  equally  welcome  to  our  father's  house." 

"And  so  have  I  found  a  guest,  or  rather  two  guests," 
said  Cicely,  taking  the  little  girl  up  on  one  arm,  and 
presenting  the  other  to  the  lady. 

The  two  strangers  had  exchanged  together  a  look  of 
grief  and  affection ;  and,  without  speaking  to  each  other, 
but  with  mutual  assent,  they  followed  their  guide. 

On  their  entrance  to  the  castle,  it  was  observed  that 
tears  were  flowing  abundantly  from  the  eyes  of  the  two 
strangers;  and,  when  afterwards  they  were  ushered  into 
the  grand  drawing-room,  they  fell  down  on  their  knees, 
exclaiming : 

"Father!  father!" 

"What  voice  do  I  hear!"  cried  Dame  Hubert,  "Giles, 
Cicely,  who  was  it  spoke?" 

"  Two  unfortunate  travellers,  two  strangers  whom  my 
siste*  and  I  met  in  the  village,"  answered  the  young  officer, 
stepping  up  to  his  mother. 

"  Travellers  they  may  be,  but  strangers  they  are  not, 
my  son,"  replied  the  dame.  "  Alas !  whoever  you  be  who 
called  upon  your  father,  speak,  and  tell  me,  who  are  you?" 

"Two  unhappy  travellers,  as  your  son  told  you,  madam," 
replied  the  fair  stranger,  in  a  tremulous  voice. 

"  The  marquis's  daughter ! "  said  the  blind  woman, 
rocking  herself  in  her  chair ;  "  't  is  the  marquis's  daughter ! 
't  is  Miss  Angelica,  and  probably  her  brother !  Do  n't 
deny  me,"  she  added  with  emphasis,  "the  eye  does  deceive, 


HONEST  HUBERT. 


63 


but  the  ear  and  the  heart  never  do.     My  children,  these 
are  your  masters  who  have  come  back." 

"  Well !  so  it  is,  Dame  Hubert,  it  is  I,"  said  Angelica, 
springing  forwards,  and  taking  the  old  woman's  hands  in 
hers;  "I,  my  brother  Adrian,  and  his  little  girl.  Alas! 
my  father  died  on  the  field  of  battle  in  a  foreign  land,  and 


64  HONEST   HUBERT 

we  were  coming  to  Hubert's  cottage,  that  same  cottage 
which  my  brother  and  I  once  made  mockery  of,  to  beg  for 
a  refuge  against  want,  for  we  are  ruined,  Dame  Hubert, 
and  have  lost  all." 

"Who  says  that  the  children  of  the  Marquis  of  Gentilly 
are  ruined,  and  have  lost  all?"  spoke  the  voice  of  honest 
Hubert,  who  had  just  before  come  in,  with  a  spade  thrown 
over  his  shoulder. 

'Is  not  this  castle  sold?"  asked  Adrian. 

'  Yes,"  returned  Hubert. 

'  Have  you  not  bought  it  yourself?"  inquired  Angelica. 

'  Yes ;  but  with  whose  money  ?"  the  farmer  in  his  turn 
inquired. 

'  With  your  own,  of  course,"  said  Adrian. 

'  With  yours,"  the  peasant  replied. 

'  How  can  that  be  ? "  cried  the  brother  and  sister  in  a 
breath. 

"O  just  God!"  exclaimed  the  farmer  with  pious  reve- 
rence, "he  who  obeys  thy  commandments  is  always  re- 
warded. The  Marquis  of  Gentilly  receives  to-day  through 
his  children,  the  reward  for  his  former  benefits. to  me. 
Listen  to  me,  then;  listen  too,  wife  and  children,  till  I 
reveal  to  you  a  secret,  which  I  should  only  have  acknow- 
ledged on  my  death-bed.  You  must  all  of  you  remember, 
fifteen  years  ago,  the  meeting  in  the  park  between  my 
children  and  those  of  the  marquis ;  and  not  only  the  release 
of  the  debt  I  owed  his  lordship,  but,  moreover,  the  round 
little  sum  which  that  night  Mr.  Adrian  handed  over  to  me, 
in  his  sister's  name  and  his  own,  to  enable  me  to  educate 
my  children.  Just  at  nightfall,  my  wife  had  the  lucky 
thought  to  tell  me  that  I  could  not  go  to  bed  and  rest 
peaceably  in  it,  until  I  had  been  to  his  lordship  to  thank 
him  for  his  goodness ;  so  I  took  up  my  hat  and  stick,  and 
off  I  set.  To  shorten  the  way  to  the  castle,  I  went 
towards  the  back  of  the  park.  I  had  a  key  in  my  pocket 
to  let  myself  in  by  the  little  door ;  so  in  I  got  that  vay. 


HONEST    HUBERT. 


65 


But  I  had  not  gone  far  along  the  dark  gloomy  walks, 
before  I  saw  a  faint  light  at  a  distance.  It  struck  me 
there  might  be  thieves;  so  I  stole  softly  on  to  surprise 
them,  see  how  many  there  were,  and  detect  their  present 
object.  I  moved  forward  as  quietly  as  possible ;  but  when 
I  had  come  close  to  the  light,  lo !  it  was  my  lord  the  mar- 
quis, who  was  digging  a  hole.  Just  as  I  came  up  he  flung 
a  bag  in,  which  as  it  fell,  jingled  like  metal;  then  he 
covered  it  over  again  with  earth,  scattered  some  dry  leaves 
at  the  top,  and  went  away.  It  was  a  secret,  therefore,  that 
I  had  unwittingly  discovered,  and  my  duty  bade  me  be 
silent.  You  can  guess  the  remainder,  marquis,"  said 
Hubert,  turning  to  Adrian.  "  As  soon  as  I  found  the  castle 
was  going  to  be  sold,  I  dug  up  the  money,  and  bought  the 
estate.  Since  then,  I  have  turned  the  land  to  good  account. 
I  am  unable  to  read  or  write ;  but  the  money  I  have  re- 
ceived, is  locked  up  in  your  honoured  father's  chest ;  you 


shall  count  it  yourself.  Your  castle  is  in  good  order.  I 
have  but  little  in  it  belonging  to  me,  and  this  I  ask  your 
permission  to  carry  home  to  my  cottage.  So,  my  lord,  this 
house  is  now  yours;  I  shall  return  to  my  cottage.  But, 
first,  have  the  goodness  to  come  with  me,  and  I  will  settle 
accounts  with  you." 

"  Settle  accounts !  honest,  Hubert,"  repeated  the  mar- 


66 


HONEST   HUBERT. 


quis,  tears  starting  to  his  eyes,  and  pressing  in  his  own 
white  hands  the  bronzed  and  horny  palms  of  the  old  farmer; 
"accounts,  indeed!  and  why  should  you  return  to  your 
cottage?  Remain  in  the  castle,  honest  Hubert;  and  if 
your  pretty  Cicely  has  not  yet  made  choice  of  a  husband, 
you  shall  be  my  father  ;  and  we  will  all  live  together  as 
one  family." 

"You  say  as  one  family,  noble  marquis,"  said  Giles 
bashfully  "so  if  this  young  lady  does  not  disdain  a 
peasant  risen  to  be  a  general?" 

"  Together  as  one  family  !  "  repeated  Angelica  smiling, 
and  giving  her  hand  to  the  young  officer. 

Not  many  days  afterwards,  the  villagers  of  Gentilly 
were  assembled  together,  to  celebrate  the  marriages  of  the 
children  of  the  marquis  with  the  children  of  the  farmer. 


JlHEIlE   was,  once  upon  a  time,  a  poor  man  and  his 
poor  wife,  who  were  very  old  indeed,  and  had  no  children; 


now,  this  they  were  sorry  for,  because  they  felt  that  in  a 
few  years  time  they  should  no  longer  be  able  to  cultivate 

7 


4  BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 

their  beans,  and  carry  them  to  market  to  sell.     So  one 
day  when  they  were   at  work  weeding  their  bean-field 


(It  was  all  the  property  they  had,  besides  a  little  cot- 
tage, and  I  wish  I  could  say  I  had  as  much) ;  one  day, 


then,  when  they  were  digging  up  the  weeds,  which  grew 
apace,  the  old  woman  espied  in  a  snug  little  corner 
beneath  the  thickest  tufts,  a  neat  little  bundle,  very  nicely 
packed,  and  which  enclosed  a  very  fine  boy,  who  appeared 
by  his  looks  to  be  eight  or  ten  months  old,  but  who  was 


BEAN   FLOWER   AND   PEA  BLOSSOM.  6 

as  wise  as  other  little  boys  are  at  t\vo  years  old,  for  he 


was  weaned  already.     So  wise  then  was  he  that  he  did 


not  refuse  to  eat  boiled  beans,  which  he  would  raise  to  his 
mouth  in  a  very  genteel  manner. 

When  the  old  man  heard  his  poor  wife  exclaim,  he 
came  running  up  from  the  other  end  of  his  field;  and 
when  he  also  had  considered,  in  his  turn,  the  beautiful 
child  which  God  had  sent  them,  the  good  old  couple 
embraced  each  other,  and  wept  with  joy ;  after  which  they 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


hastened  to  return  to  the  cottage,  lest  the  evening  clew, 
which  had  begun  to  fall,  might  hurt  their  foundling. 

Now  as  soon  as  they  had  ensconced  themselves 
snugly  by  the  hearth  only  think  —  how  great  their  sur- 
prise must  have  been .!  —  for  the  little  child  held  out  his 
arms,  and  smiled  most  lovingly  upon  them,  calling  them 
mama  and  papa,  as  if  he  had  never  known  any  other 
parents. 

Then  the  old  man  perched  him  upon  his  knee,  and 
cantered  him  up  and  down  like  the  young  ladies  we  see 
on  horseback,  saying  all  the  while  some  pretty  things  to 
amuse  him ;  and  which  the  child  responded  to  in  his  own 
merry  way,  that  he  might  take  his  part  with  the  old  man 
in  so  agreeable  a  conversation.  All  this  while  the  old 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA.  ULOSSOM.  7 

woman  was  making  a  fine  clear  fire  with  dry  bean-stalks, 
which  lighted  up  the  whole  room;  and  this  she  did  to 
comfort  Ihe  little  limbs  of  their  new  visitor  by  its  genial 


warmth,  and  to  make  him  some  nice  bean  pap  with  a 
spoonful  of  honey  melted  in  it,  which  gave  it  a  delicious 
taste. 

By-and-by  she  put  him  to  bed  in  his  swaddling 
clothes  made  of  fine  linen,  and  which  were  very  white  and 
clean,  choosing  for  his  bed  the  nicest  bean-stalks  she  could 
find  at  home,  for  these  poor  people  did  not  know  what 
it  was  to  lie  upon  fine  down  or  feather  beds. 

The  child  slept  very  snugly  on  this  bed  of  stalks ;  and 
when  he  had  gone  to  sleep,  the  old  man  said  to  the  old 
woman,  "  There  is  one  thing  which  puzzles  me,  and  that 
is,  what  name  we  ought  to  bestow  upon  this  beautiful 
boy,  for  we  do  n't  know  who  are  his  parents,  or  where 


8  BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA   BLOSSOM. 

he  comes  from."    Now  the  old  woman,  who  had  a  quick 
fancy  though  she  was  but  a  poor  village  crone,  answered 

immediately,  "  Let  us  call 
^»»^     --^      m'm  BEAN  FLOWER  !  be- 
cause it  was  in  our  bean- 
field  that  we  found  him, 
*--    and  because  he  is  to  be 
^-  the   delight  and  consola- 
p^  tion    of     our     declining 
Y  years."       The    old    man 
•  agreed  that   there   could 
V      ';  '  '  *  not  be  a  fitter  name. 

I  think  it  useless  to  tell  you  how  he  passed  every  day 
and  every  year,  for  that  would  make  my  story  too  long. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  old  people  grew  older  every 
day,  whilst  little  Bean  Flower  grew  stronger  and  finer  at 
the  same  time.  Not  that  he  became  very  tall,  for  he  was 
only  two  feet  and  a  half  high  at  twelve ;  and  whenever  he 
worked  in  his  bean-field,  which  he  was  very  fond  of,  you 
could  hardly  have  perceived  him  from  the  highroad :  but 
he  was  so  well  shaped  though  small,  his  face  and  his 
manner  were  so  becoming,  he  was  so  mild,  and  yet  so 
firm  in  his  language,  he  looked  so  bold  in  his  sky-blue 
frock  and  red  belt  and  his  fine  Sunday  cap  with  a  bean 
flower  for  a  feather  to  it,  that  nobody  could  help  admiring 
him,  and  many  people  thought  he  really  must  be  the 
child  of  some  fairy. 

I  must  admit  that  there  were  many  things  which 
favoured  the  supposition  of  these  simple  people.  In  the 
first  place,  the  cottage  and  its  bean-field,  on  which  a 
single  cow  would  not  have  found  wherewithal  to  graze 
a  few  years  before,  had  become  one  of  the  richest  domains 
in  the  country  without  any  body  knowing  how.  Nothing 
to  be  sure  can  be  more  common  than  to  see  bean-plants 
growing,  blossoming,  and  ripening  in  their  pod;  but  t<5 
behold  a  bean-field  itself  grow  wider,  without  having 


BEAN  FLOWER  AND  PEA  BLOSSOM. 


been  extended  by  purchase,  or  by  unjust  encroachment 
on  other  people's  ground,  that  indeed  is  a  matter  beyond 
the  understanding  even  of  the  wisest. 

For  all  that  this  lucky  bean-field  kept  growing  and 
growing ;  it  grew  towards  the  north,  it  grew  towards  the 
south,  it  grew  towards  the  east,  it  grew  towards  the  west ; 
and  all  in  vain  was  it  that  the  neighbours  measured  their 
grounds,  for  the  measure  was  always  right  with  an  odd 
patch  or  two  over,  so  that  they  began,  very  reasonably, 
to  think  that  the  whole  country  was  increasing  in  size. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  beans  grew  so  thick,  that  the 
cottage  never  could  have  held  the  crop,  had  it  not  widened 
considerably  j  and,  as  one  year  the  bean-fields  had  every 
where  failed  for  a  distance  of  five  miles  off,  the  value  of 


10 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


of  our  good  people's  crop  was  greatly  increased,  on  account 
of  the  vast  consumption  of  beans  which  took  place  at  the 
tables  of  lords  and  kings. 


In  the  midst  of  this  plenty,  Bean  Flower  did  all  the 
work  himself,  he  turned  the  earth  over,  he  picked  out 
the  seed,  he  smoothed  the  beds,  he  pulled  up  the  weeds, 
he  dug  the  ground,  he  raked,  he  reaped,  he  shelled ;  and 
besides  all  this,  he  kept  the  hedges  and  fences  in  good 
order,  and  then  employed  the  rest  of  his  time  in 
receiving  and  dealing  with  the  market  people,  for  he 
could  read,  write,  and  cipher,  though  he  had  never 
been  to  school;  he  was  indeed  a  blessing  to  these  poor 
people. 

Now  it  happened,  one  night  when  Bean  Flower  was 
asleep,  the  old  man  said  to  his  wife,  "  Little  Bean  Flower 
has  been  very  serviceable  to  us,  since  he  has  enabled  us  to 
pass  away  quietly,  and  without  any  toil,  the  few  years 
we  have  still  to  live.  Though  we  have  bequeathed  him 


BEAN    FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


11 


in  our  will  the  whole  of  this  property,  we  have  only 
restored  him  his  own  rights ;  and  we  shall  prove  ungrate- 
ful to  the  child,  unless  we  manage  to  get  him  a  more 
suitable  lot  in  life  than  that  of  a  bean-seller.  Pity  it  is 
that  he  should  be  too  modest  to  take  his  degree  as  doctor 
in  a  university,  and  a  little  bit  too  short  to  become  a 
general." 


"It  is  a  pity,"  said  the  old  woman,  "fliat  he  has  not 
studied  enough  to  know  the  names  of  five  or  six  diseases 


12  BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 

in  Latin,  for  then  there  would  be  nothing  so  easy  as  tc 
have  him  dubbed  a  doctor." 

"  As  for  your  law-suits,"  continued  the  old  man,  "  I 
am  afraid  he  has  too  much  sense  and  judgment  ever  to 
make  out  one  of  them." 

"1  have  always  fancied,"  returned  the  old  woman, 
"  that  he  would  marry  Princess  PEA  BLOSSOM  when  he 
came  of  age." 


"  Pea  Blossom,"  said  the  old  man,  shaking  his  head, 
"  is  far  too  great  a  princess  to  marry  a  poor  foundling  who 
will  have  nothing  to  call  his  own  but  a  little  cottage  and 
a  bean-field.  Pea  Blossom,  my  old  girl,  is  a  match  for 
an  alderman,  a  lord  mayor,  or  even  the  king  himself, 
if  he  should  become  a  widower.  We  are  talking  of  serious 
matters,  and  you  are  unreasonable." 

"  Bean  F^yer  has  more  sense  than  we  two,"  answered 
the  old  woman,  after  a  little  bit  of  reflection.  "  Besides,  this 
business  is  not  ours,  but  his,  and  it  would  be  ungracious 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA   BLOSSOM. 

to  carry  it  further  without  consulting  him."     And  there- 
upon the  good  old 

couple    shut    their 

eyes  and  fell  asleep.  |^ 
The  day  began  ^t 

to  peep,  when  Mas-   J 

ter    Bean    Flower  7; 

jumped  out  of  bed, 

like  a  diligent  boy, 

to  run  to  the  fields 

according  to  his  cus- 
tom.     But,    guess 

his      astonishment, 

when  he  found  his 

Sunday  clothes  on  the  box,  where  he  had  laid  his  old 

ones  the  night  before. 

"  And  yet  it  is  a  working  day,  if  there  be  one,  or  else 

the  calendar  deceives  me,"  said  he,  aside,  "  and  my  mother 

must  intend   to  keep  holiday  without  my   knowing  the 

reason,  since  she  has  got  ready  my  fine  frock  and  orna- 
mental cap.  But  let  it  be  as 
she  wishes,  for  I  should  be 
sorry  to  cross  her  mood  in  any 
thing  at  her  great  age,  and 
a  few  hours  loss  may  easily 
be  borrowed  from  the  week, 
by  getting  up  earlier,  and 
going  to  bed  later." 

And  then  Master  Bean 
Flower  decked  himself  as 
smartly  as  he  could ;  but  first 
he  knelt  down  and  prayed 
to  God  for  the  health  of 
his  good  old  father  and 

mother,  and  the  success  of  his  crop. 

As  he  was  preparing  to  go  out,  and  look  upon  tho 


14  BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 

field  before  the  old  couple  awoke,  he  met  the  old  woman 

on  the  threshold,  bear- 
ing in  her  hand  a 
hot  smoking  porridge, 
which  she  placed  on  his 
little  table  along  with  a 
wooden  spoon. 

"  Eat,  eat,"  said  she 
to  him ;  "  and  do  n't  go 
out  without  first  taking 
this  nice  sweetened 
porridge  mixed  with 
green  aniseed,  as  you 
used  to  like  it  when  a 
child ;  for  you  have  a 
great,  a  very  great  way 
to  go  to-day  my  darling." 
"  This  is  very  kind  of 
you,"  said  Master  Bean 
Flower,  looking  at  her  with  surprise;  "but  whither 
do  you  send  me?" 

The  old  woman  sat  down  upon  a  stool  that  was  by  the 
table,  and  rested  her  two  hands  upon  her  knee :  "  You  are 
going  in  the  world,"  answered  she,  smiling,  "into  the 
world,  my  pretty  flower;  you  have  never  seen  any  but 
us,  and  two  or  three  other  poor  hucksters  to  whom  you 
sell  your  beans  to  provide  for  the  house  expenses,  like  a 
worthy  lad  as  you  are ;  and  as  you  are  destined  some  day 
to  be  a  great  man,  if  the  price  of  beans  should  not  decline, 
it  is  but  proper,  my  darling,  that  you  should  try  and  form 
some  respectable  connexions.  Now  I  must  tell  you,  then, 
that  there  is  a  large  town,  about  five  miles  off,  in  which  at 
every  step  you  go,  you  will  meet  with  great  lords  in  gold 
habits,  and  fine  ladies  in  silver  robes,  with  bunches  of  roses 
all  about  them.  Your  pretty  looks,  so  affable  and  lively, 
cannot  fail  to  strike  them  with  admiration;  and  I  am 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND    PEA   BLOSSOM. 


15 


much  mistaken  if  the  day  closes  before  you  have  obtained 
eome    honourable   ap- 
pointment,   in    which 
you  may  gain  a  great 
deal  of  money  with- 
out doing  any   work, 
either  at   court  or  in  •  / 
some  public  office.    So 
eat,  eat,   my  darling, 
and  don't  go  without 
partaking  of  this  nice 
sugared  porridge  mixed   '? 
with    green    aniseed. 
Now,  as  you  know  the 
value  of  beans  better 
than    you  do  that  of  ^ "';•' 
money,"  continued  the  ^: 
old  woman,  "you  must  ?• 
sell    these    six    quart 
measured    of    pickled 
beans  at  the  market.      I  do  n't  give  you  more  for  fear  of 


burdening  you,  besides  which,  beans  are  so  dear  at  tho 


16 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND    PEA  BLOSSOM. 


present  time  that  you  could  not  bring  home  the  price  of 
them,  even  though  it  was  all  paid  to  you  in  gold.  And, 
therefore,  we  have  agreed,  your  father  and  I,  that  you 
should  keep  half  the  sum  to  spend  in  proper  diversions 
suited  to  your  age,  or  in  the  purchase  of  well-wrought 
jewels,  to  put  on  every  Sunday,  such  as  silver  watches 
adorned  with  rubies  or  emeralds,  an  ivory  cup  and  ball, 

and  humming-top. 
The  remainder  of 
the  money  you  can 
carry  to  the  Sav- 
ings Bank.  Go 
then,  my  little 
flower,  now  that 
you  have  finished 
your  porridge,  and 
take  care  you 
are  not  benighted 
whilst  running  af- 
ter the  butterflies,  for  we  should  die  with  grief  if  you 
did  not  return  before  night.  And  mind  you  keep  in  the 
beaten  track  for  fear  of  the  wolves." 

"  You  shall  be  obeyed,  good  mother,"  said  Master  Bean 
Flower,  kissing  the  old  woman,  "  although  I  should  feel 
more  pleasure  if  I  spent  the  day  in  the  field ;  as  for  the 
wolves,  with  my  hoe  I  don't  fear  them." 

So  saying,  he  hung  his  hoe  boldly  to  his  belt,  and  set 
out  at  a  steady  pace. 

"  Return  home  early,"  cried  the  old  woman  after  him, 
already  beginning  to  regret  she  had  let  him  depart. 

Bean  Flower  walked  on  and  on,  taking  terrible  strides 
like  a  man  five  feet  high,  and  looking  about  him  here 
and  there,  at  the  new  and  strange  things  which  he  met 
on  his  way,  for  he  had  never  conceived  that  the  earth  was 
so  large  and  wonderful.  However,  when  he  had  walked 
on  for  an  hour,  as  he  reckoned  by  the  sun's  height, 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND    TEA   BLOSSOM. 


and  wondered  he  had  not  reached  the  town  after  walking 

so  fast,  he  thought  he  heard  some  one  crying  after  him 

"  Bo,  bo,  bo,  bo,  bo,  bo, 

tee  !   stop,  Master  Bean 

Flower,  if  you  please." 
"Who  calls  me?"  said 

Master    Bean    Flower, 

clapping  his  hand  firmly 

to  his  hoe. 

"  Pray  stop  here,  Mas- 
ter Bean  Flower !     Bo, 

bo,  bo,  bo, bo, bo,  tee !  'tis 

I  who  speak  to  you." 
"  Is  it  true,"  said  Bean 

Flower,  directing  his  at- 
tention to  the  top  of  an 

old  hollow  pine  tree,  half  < 

decayed,  upon  which  a 

large  owl  was  swinging 

with  the  breeze ;    "  and 

what  business  have  you  and  I  together,  my  fine  bird?' 
"  It  would  be  strange  if  you  remembered  me,"  replied 
^ssmsv     the  owl;  "for  I  have 
never  served  you  ex- 
cept in  secret,  as  be- 
comes a  delicate  owl, 
and  one  who  is   mo- 
dest and  orderly,  by 
*'  eating,  bit  by  bit,  at 
my   own  hazard,  the 
nasty   rats  who    nib- 
bled  every  year  one 
half    of    your    crop; 
and     that     is     why 

your    field    now  produces    you  enough    to   buy  you   a 

pretty    little    kingdom,   if   you   can    rest    satisfied   with 


sy 


DEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM- 


it.      As  for  me, 
the   unfortunate    and  disin- 
terested victim  of  devotion,  I 
have  not  one  poor  rat  left  in  the' 
larder  for  my  holidays  ;  for  my  eye 
have  become  so  worn  in  your  service, 
that  I  can  hardly  find  my  way,  even 
at  night.     I  called  to  you,  therefore, 
bounteous  Bean  Flower,  to  beg  you 
to  grant  me  one  of  those  nice  quart 
measures  of  beans  Avhich  you  carry  on 
the  top  of  your  stick,  and  which  will 
enable  me  to  eke  out  my  miserable 
life,  until  my  eldest  son  comes  of  age, 
whose  honour  you  may  trust  to." 

"  What  you  ask  for,  Master  Owl," 
cried  Bean-Flower,  taking  one  of  the 
three  measures  of  beans  off  the  stick 
which  belonged  to  himself,  "  is  the 
just  debt  of  gratitude  ;  and  I  am 
happy  to  pay  it."  The  owl 
flew  down  upon  it,  snatched 
it  up  with  beak  and  claws,  and 
sped  back  to  his  tree  with 
one  flap  of  his  wing. 


^ 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


19 


vh!  what  a  hurry  you  are  in!"  re- 
s   sumed   Bean  Flower.      "May   I 
inquire,   Mister   Owl,  whether   I 
3  am  far  from  the  city  my  mother 
\    has  sent  me  to  ?" 
H4    "  You  are  just  entering  upon  it,  my 
=^    friend,"  said  the  owl ;   and  having 
said  this,  he  flew  away,  and  perched  upon  another  tree. 

Master  Bean  Flower  went  on  his  way  again,  Avith  one 
measure  the  less  for  his  burden,  and  almost  sure  that 
he  was  about  to  reach  the  great  city ;  but  he  had  not 
gone  more  than  a  hundred  yards  when  he  heard  his  name 
again. 

"Ba-a,  ba-a,  ba-a;  bakkee!  Stop  here,  Master  Bean 
Flower,  if  you  please." 

"  I  think  I  know  that  voice,"  said  Bean  Flower,  turn 
ing  about.  "Yes,  truly,  it  is  that  impudent  rogue  of  a 
mountain  doe,  which  used  always  to  roam  with  her  little 
ones  about  my  field  to  filch  a  good  mouthful.  So  there 
you  are,  Mrs.  Marauder  ?  " 

"  Why  do  you  speak  of  me,  as  a  marauder,  Pretty 
Flower?  Ah,  your  hedges  were  too  well  cut,  your 
ditches  too  deep,  and  your  fences  too  close  for  that. 
All  that  one  could  do  was  to  clip  off  the  end  of  a 

few  leaves  which  stuck  out  between 

the   joints    of    the 
hurdle ;   and 


20  BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA   BLOSSOM. 

when  we  prune,  it  is  good  for  the  plants,  for  what  saya 
proverb : — 


"That  is  enough,"  said  Bean  Flower,  "but  tell  me, 
why  did  you  stop  me,  and  what  can  I  do  for  you,  Mrs. 
Doe?" 

"  Alas ! "  answered  she,  shedding  big  tears ;  "  ba-a, 
ba-a,  bakkee.  I  wanted  to  tell  you  how  a  naughty  wolf 
had  laten  up  my  husband,  the  buck,  and  that  AVC  are  in 
great  distress,  my  orphan  and  me,  since  we  have  lost  our 
protector ;  so  that  she  is  in  danger  of  starving  unless  you 
come  to  her  relief,  poor  little  kid !  So  I  called  you,  noble 
Bean  Flower,  to  beg  you  would  take  pity  on  us,  and  to 
give  us  one  of  those  nice  measures  of  beans  which  you 
are  carrying  at  the  end  of  your  stick,  and  which  will 
be  a  sufficient  supply  until  we  receive  succour  from  our 
relatives. 

"  What  you  ask  of  me,  Mrs.  Doe,"  cried  Bean  Flower, 
taking  another  of  his  own  measures  of  beans  off  the  stick, 
"is  a  deed  of  pity  and  benevolence  which  I  am  bound 
to  perform." 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


The  doe  snapped  up  the  measure  with  her  lips,  and 
with  one  bound  vanished  into  the  thicket. 


Oh  1  how  you  hurry  away,"  exclaimed  Bean  Flower, 


BEAN   FLOWER   AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


UICPT      •*-    AllVj^U-lX^       V*      J  UUj     *-L^J      •*%***£  ***«****.$      fT  U*sUU*?JL 

far  from  the  city  which  my  mother  has  sent  me  t< 
"You  are  in  it  already,"  cried  the  doe,  ph 


"may  I  inquire  of  you,  my  neighbour,  whether  I  am  still 

to?r 

lunging  in 
among  the  brambles. 

Then  Bean  Flower  Avent  on  his  way  once  more,  relieved 
of  two  of  his  measures,  and  looking  about  for  the  walls  of 
the  town,  when  he  perceived,  by  a  slight  noise  which 
came  from  the  skirts  of  the  wood,  that  he  was  closely 
pursued.  He  advanced  quickly  to  the  spot  with  his  hoe 
in  his  hand,  and  it  was  well  he  did  so,  for  the  party  who 


•;  •- 


followed  him  so  slily  and  stealthily,  was  neither  more  nor 
less  than  an  old  wolf,  whose  countenance  was  not  very 
prepossessing,  I  assure  you. 

"  So  it  was  you,  malignant  beast,"  said  Bean  Flower, 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM.  23 

'  who  destined  me  the  honour  of  figuring  at  your  supper 
table !  Luckily  my  weapon  has  two  prongs  as  sharp  as 
all  your  teeth  put  together,  without 
prejudice  to  them ;  and  take  my  word 
J>\\  for  it,  good  fellow,  you  shall  sup  to- 
A\  night  without  me ;  and  do  n't  be  too 
< »  '  sure  that  I  shall  not  revenge  upon  your 
ugly  person  the  killing  of  the  doe's  hus- 
band, who  was  the  father  of  the  kid, 
and  whose  family  your  cruelty  has  re- 
duced to  the  lowest  brink  of  wretched- 
ness. I  ought  perhaps  to  do  so,  and  it  would  only  be  an 
act  of  justice,  had  I  not  been  brought  up  to  shudder  at 
the  sight  of  blood,  so  as  even  to  spare  a  treacherous 
wolf. 

The  wolf,  who  so  far  had  listened  very  humbly,  sud- 
denly heaved  a  long  and  plaintive  cry,  and  raised  his  eyes 
as  if  to  call  heaven  to  witness. 


\ 


"  Oh,  divine  powers !  who  gave  me  the  form  and 
honours  of  the  wolf,"  said  he,  with  many  sobs,  "you 
know  my  heart  never  admitted  evil  thoughts.  You  are 
still  at  liberty,  my  lord,"  he  continued,  inclining  his  head 
respectfully  towards  Bean  Flower,  "  to  take  my  wretchec 


24 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND    PEA  BLOSSOM. 


life,  which  I  deliver  to  your  clemency  without  either  fear 

or  remorse.     I  shall  die  without  repining  at  your  sentence, 

if  you  think  fit  to  sacrifice  me,  by 

way  of  expiation,  to  the  manifest 

crimes   of  my   brethren   of  the 

wolfish  tribe;    for  I  have   ever 

most    tenderly   loved    you,    and 

greatly  honoured  you,  since  the 

day  when  I  used  to  hang  over 

your  cradle  with  true  delight,  and 

fondle  you,  whilst  your  respected  mother  was  away.     You 

were  even  then  so  comely  and  so  stately,  that  it  was  easy 

to  tell,  by  your  very  looks,  that  you  were  fated  to  become 

the  noble  and  powerful  prince  that  you  are.     All  I  ask  of 

you,  before  you  pass  sentence  upon  me,  is  to  believe  that  I 

am  guiltless  of  steeping  my  paws  in  the  blood  of  the  un- 


fortunate husband  of  the  doe.     Brought  up  and  educated 
according   to   the    strictest  principles  of  temperance  and 


BEAN    FLOWER   AND    PEA   BLOSSOM. 


25 


self-denial,  from  which  I  have  never  swerved  throughout 
my  whole  career  as  a  wolf,  I  was  absent  at  that  time,  dif- 
fusing the  sound  doctrines  of  morality  among  the  lupine 
tribes,  which  belong  to  my  community ;  hoping  to  bring 
them  gradually,  by  precept  and  example,  to  the  practice 
of  frugality,  which  is  the  grand  object  of  wolfish  perfec- 
tion. That  is  not  all,  my  lord:  the  husband  of  the  doe 
was  my  friend;  he  was  endeared  to  me  by  many  good 
qualities  and  kindly  feelings,  and  we  often  travelled  to- 
gether and  conversed,  on  account  of  his  native  wit  and 
good  taste.  A  melancholy  contest  for  precedence  (you 
know  how  punctilious  the  bucks  have  ever  been  on  this 

point)  was  the  occa- 
sion of  his  death 
whilst  I  was  abroad ; 
and  I  shall  never 
cease  to  bewail  his 
loss."  And  there- 
upon the  wolf  began 
to  weep,  and  the 
tears  seemed  to  issue 
from  his  very  heart, 
as  if  the  doe  herself 
had  shed  them. 
"For  all  that  you  were,  following  me,"  said  Bean 
Flower,  still  keeping  his  two-pronged  weapon  wide  open. 

"  Twice,  my  lord,"  answered  the  wolf,  with  a  soothing 
voice,  "  I  did  follow  you,  because  I  hoped  to  engage  your 
interest  in  my  benevolent  and  charitable  purposes,  but  in 
some  place  better  suited  to  conversation  than  this  is. 
Alas !  said  I  to  myself,  if  my  Lord  Bean  Flower,  whose 
reputation  is  so  high  and  so  widely  spread,  would  only 
contribute  his  share  to  my  plan  of  reform,  he  would  have 
a  fine  opportunity  to-day ;  I  will  answer  for  it  that  the 
expense  shall  not  exceed  one  of  those  nice  measures^  of 
beans  which  he  carries  on  the  top  of  his  stick,  to  provide 


26  BEAN   FLOWER   AND    PEA   BLOSSOM. 

with  dainties  a  whole  ordinary  of  wolves,  she-wolves,  and 
their  cubs,  used  to  a  vegetable  diet,  and  to  preserve  a 
countless  generation  of  bucks,  does,  and  kids." 

"It  is  the  last  of  my  own  measures,"  thought  Bean 
Flower;  "but  what  need  have  I  of  watches,  cups  and  balls, 
and  tops  ?  and  what  comparison  is  there  between  a  childish 
amusement  and  a  good  action  ?  There  is  your  measure  of 


beans,"  said  he,  taking  off  his  stick  the  last  of  the  measures 
which  his  mother  had  given  him  for  his  pocket  money. 
"  It  is  the  last  of  my  fortune,"  he  added ;  "  but  I  do  not 
regret  it,  and  I  shall  be  grateful,  friend  wolf,  if  you  make 
so  good  a  use  of  it  as  you  promised." 

The  wolf  stuck  his  teeth  into  it,  and  carried  it  off  like 
a  shot  to  his  den. 

"  Oh  !  how  you  hurry  away,"  exclaimed  Bean  Flower ; 
"  may  I  inquire  of  you,  Mr.  Wolf,  if  I  am  still  far  from 
the  world  my  mother  has  sent  me  to?" 

"  You  have  been  in  it  some  time,"  replied  the  wolf, 
laughing  aside ;  "  and  if  you  stop  in  it  for  a  thousand  years, 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA   BLOSSOM. 


you  will  see  nothing  else  in  it  but  what  you  have  seen 
already."  Bean  Flower  went  on  his  vay  again,  relieved  of 
his  three  measures,  and  looking  -about  for  the  walls  of  the 
town,  which  never  appeared. 
He  began  to  feel  tired  and 
weary,  when  his  attention  was 
roused  by  cries  of  distress  pro- 
ceeding from  a  small  by-path. 
He  ran  towards  the  spot. 
"What's  the  matter?"  said  he, 
raising  his  weapon;  "who  calls 
for  help?  Speak,  for  I  see 
nothing." 

"  It  is  I,  good  Bean  Flower; 
I,  PEA  BLOSSOM,"  answered  a 
low,  soft  voice,  "  who  beg  you  H 
to  deliver  me  from  my  present  embarrassment ;  if  you  only 
have  the  will,  it  will  not  give  you  much  trouble." 

"  Let  me  assure  you,  madam,  I  am  not  accustomed  to 
mind  what  it  costs  me  to  oblige  a  person.      You  may  dis? 
pose   of  all   my  fortune   and  patrimony,"  continued  he, 
8 


28 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA   BLOSSOM. 


"save  and  except  the  three  measures  of  beans  which  I 
carry  on  the  top  of  my  stick ;  because  they  do  not  belong 
to  me,  but  to  my  father  and  mother,  and  because  I  have 
just  now  given  those  which  were  mine  to  a  venerable  owl, 
a  very  godly  wolf,  who  preaches  like  a  hermit,  and  to  the 
most  interesting  of  mountain  does.  I  have  not  got  a 
single  bean  left  to  offer  you." 

"  You  are  jesting,"  replied  Pea  Blossom,  somewhat 
piqued.  "  Who  talks  of  beans,  my  lord  ?  I  do  n't  want 
your  beans,  forsooth ;  and  in  my  buttery  we  do  n't  know 
such  a  thing.  The  service  I  ask  of  you,  is  to  put  your 
finger  on  the  handle  of  my  carriage,  and  throw  back  the 
top,  beneath  which  I  am  almost  smothered." 

"  I  should  be  happy  to  oblige  you,  madam,"  cried  Bean 

Flower,  "if  I  could 
see  your  carriage ; 
but  there  is  no 
sign  of  any  car- 
riage in  this  path, 
which  does  not 
look  like  a  place 
fit  for  carriages  to 
drive  in.  How- 
ever, I  shall  not  be 
long  before  I  find 
it,  for  I  can  hear  that  you  are  very  close  to  me." 

"  What ! "  said  she,  laughing  aloud,  "  can't  you  see  my 
carriage ;  you  well  nigh  crushed  it,  like  a  careless  fellow ! 
There  it  is,  right  before  you,  kind  Mr.  Bean  Flower ;  and 
it  is  easy  to  distinguish  it  by  its  elegant  appearance,  which 
slightly  resembles  a  small  pea." 

"It  resembles  a  small  pea  so  closely,"  thought  Bean 
Flower,  stooping,  "  that  I  would  have  laid  my  life  it  was 
nothing  else  but  a  small  pea." 

A  single  glance  was  enough  to  show  Bean  Flower  that 
it  was  a  very  large  pea,  as  round  as  an  orange,  and  as 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


29 


yellow   as   a  lemon,   supported  by  four  golden   wheels, 
and  furnished  with  a  small  portmanteau  made  of  a  small 

peas-cod,  as  green  and 

^Sxti'mttswraw^  |£f  SeZS^dt 

-^^F  "  IW3SSK&'  lliU  H!W  touch  the  handle,  and 
C\\m.'  /HE  Lm  the  door  flew  open. 

Pea  Blossom  emerged, 
and  alighted  gaily  on 
her  feet.  Bean  Flower 
arose  in  astonishment, 
for  he  had  never  conceived  any  thing  so  lovely  as  Pea 
Blossom;  she  had,  indeed,  the  most  perfect  face  that  a 
painter  could  invent :  her  eyes  as  long  and  oval  as  almonds, 
as  blue  as  violets,  as  piercing  as  daggers ;  and  a  fine  laugh- 
ing mouth,  which,  when  it  half  opened,  allowed  you  to  see 


a  set  of  teeth  as  white  as  alabaster,  and  of  the  brightest 
enamel.     Her  short  robe,  which  was  slightly  puffed  out, 


30         BEAN  FLOWER  AND  PEA  BLOSSOM. 
t 

and  streaked  with  rosy  flakes,  like  the  blossom  on  the  sweet 
peas,  hardly  reached  lower  than  her  knees.  Her  legs  were 
formed  in  perfection,  and  encased  in  smart  silk  stockings 
as  tightly  drawn  as  if  a  capstan  had  been  used,  and  below 
which  Avere  two  small  feet,  so  delicately  shaped  that  any 
one  might  Avish  to  be  the  maker  of  her  shoes,  only  to  have 
the  privilege  of  trying  them  on. 

"What  are  you  staring  at?"  said  Pea  Blossom,  an 
evident  proof  that  Bean  FloAver  did  not  look  very  sprightly 
at  that  moment.  Bean  Flower  blushed,  but  soon  recovered 
himself. 

"I  was  wondering  hoAV  it  could  be,"  he  replied,  mo- 
destly, "  that  a  princess  so  beautiful,  Avho  is  about  my  own 
size,  could  be  shut  up  in  that  pea." 

"You  underrate  my  carriage  out  of  reason,  Bean 
Flo  Aver,"  returned  Pea  Blossom;  "it  is  very  comfortable 
to  travel  in  Avhen  open;  and  it  is  only  by  chance  that  I 


have  not  got  with  me  my  chiet  equerry,  my  almoner,  my 
steward,  my  secretary,  and  two  or  three  of  my  ladies  in 
waiting.  I  am  fond  of  driving  out  alone ;  and  this  whim 
was  the  cause  of  the  accident  which  happened  to  me.  I 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM.  81 

do  n't  know  whether  you  have  ever  been  in  company  with 
the  King  of  the  Crickets,  whom  you  may  easily  know  by 
his  shining  black  mask,  like  Harlequin's,  with  stiff  straight 
horns,  and  by  his  harsh-toned  voice.  The  King  of  the 
Crickets  did  me  the  honour  to  love  me ;  he  knew  that  my 
minority  would  terminate  this  day,  and  that  it  is  the 
custom  for  the  princesses  of  our  house  to  choose  a  husband 
when  they  are  ten  years  old.  So  he  threw  himself  in  my 
way,  according  to  etiquette,  to  pester  me  with  the  horrid 
din  of  his  jangling  declarations ;  and  I  answered  him,  as  I 
always  do,  by  stopping  my  ears.*' 

"O  joyful  news!"  said  Bean  Flower,  delighted,  "you 
will  not  marry  the  King  of  the  Crickets  ?" 

"  I  will  not  marry  him,"  answered  Pea  Blossom,  with 
dignity.  "  My  choice  was  already  made.  But  I  had  no 
sooner  signified  to  him  my  refusal,  than  the  odious 
Cricket  sprang  upon  my  carriage,  as  if  he  would  swallow  it, 
and  threw  down  the  top.  *  Now  go  and  get  married,'  said 
he  to  me,  *  you  conceited  little  minx !  get  married  if  you 
can,  and  see  whether  any  husband  will  come  to  you  in 
this  state !  As  for  me,  I  care  no  more  for  you  and  your 
kingdom  than  I  do  for  a  pea  !' ' 

"  Do  but  tell  me  in  what  hole  the  King  of  the  Crickets 
has  hid  himself!"  exclaimed  Bean  Flower,  in  a  rage.  ".I 
will  soon  dig  him  up  with  my  weeding-fork,  and  will 
bring  him  to  you,  princess,  bound  hands  and  feet,  to  await 
your  decree.  I  can  feel,  however,  for  his  despair,"  added 
he,  dropping  his  head  sorrowfully.  "  But  do  n't  you  think 
I  ought  to  accompany  you  to  your  capital  to  protect  you 
from  his  pursuit." 

"That  would  indeed  be  necessary,"  generous  Bean 
Flower,  "were  I  far  from  the  frontier  of  my  kingdom. 
But,  lo,  there  is  a  field  of  sweet  peas,  all  of  them  faithful 
subjects  to  me,  and  which  no  enemy  dare  approach."  So 
speaking,  she  struck  the  earth  with  her  foot,  and  hung 
suspended  by  her  two  arms  to  two  bending  stalks  which 


BEAN   FLOWER   AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


"bowed  beneath  her,  and  then  rose  up,  sprinkling  their 
sweet  leaves  over  her  hair.  Whilst  Bean  Flower  stood 
looking  at  her  with  pleasure,  as  I  should  have  done  had  I 
been  in  his  place,  she  transfixed  him  with  piercing  glances 
from  her  eyes,  and  spell  bound  him  with  her  smile,  to 
such  a  degree,  that  he  could  have  died  from  the  joy  of  be- 
holding her,  and  would  have  perhaps  stood  there  till  now 
if  she  had  let  him. 

"  I  have  detained  you  too  long,"  said  she  to  him,  **  for 
I  know  that  the  bean-trade  is  very  busy  in  these  times ; 
but  my  carriage,  or  rather  your  own,  will  soon  enable  you 
to  recover  your  lost  time.  Do  not  offend  me,  I  entreat 
you,  by  refusing  so  trifling  a  present.  I  have  millions  of 
Buch  carriages  in  the  granaries  of  my  palace ;  and  when  I 
wish  for  a  new  one,  I  pick  it  from  out  a  handful,  and 
fling  the  rest  to  the  mice." 

"The  smallest  favour  from  your  highness  would  be 
the  pride  and  glory  of  my  life,"  replied  Bean  Flower; 
•*  but  you  do  not  perceive  I  am  yet  laden  with  these  beans. 


BEAN  FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM.  83 

Now  I  can  readily  conceive  however  full  my  measures 
may  be,  that  there  would  still  be  plenty  of  room  in  any 
one  of  them  for  your  carriage ;  but  to  put  my  measures 
into  your  carriage,  that  would  be  impossible." 

'•'  Try  it,"  said  Pea  Blossom,  laughing,  and  joyfully 
swinging  to  and  fro  upon  the  cluster  of  sweet  peas ;  "  try 
it,  and  do  not  wonder  at  every  thing  like  a  child  who 
has  seen  nothing  at  all."  In  truth,  Bean  Flower  had  no 
difficulty  in  stowing  his  three  measures  in  the  boot  of  the 
carriage,  which  might  have  held  thirty  of  them,  and 
upwards.  At  this  he  was  rather  mortified. 

"  I  am  ready  to  go,  madam,"  rejoined  he,  seating  him- 
self upon  a  well-stuffed  cushion,  the  fulness  of  which 
allowed  him  to  place  himself  at  his  ease,  in  any  posture, 
even  to  stretch  himself  out  at  full  length  upon  it,  if  he 
liked.  "It  is  my  duty  to  my  kind  parents  not  to  leave 
them  in  suspense  the  first  time  I  am  absent  from  them; 
and  I  now  only  wait  for  your  coachman,  who,  I  suppose, 
fled  in  terror  at  the  gross  insult  of  the  King  of  the  Crickets, 
carrying  off  the  horses  and  the  shafts  along  with  him.  I 
shall  then  leave  this  happy  spot,  with  the  everlasting  regret 
of  having  seen  you  once  without  hoping  to  see  you  again." 

"Good1."  replied  Pea  Blossom,  without  noticing  the 
latter  part  of  Bean  Flower's  speech,  which  was  so  very 
pointed;  "good!  my  carriage  has  neither  coachman,  nor 
shafts,  nor  horses:  it  is  propelled  by  steam,  and  it  goes 
fifty  thousand  leagues  an  hour.  Now,  let  me  ask  you 
whether  you  still  fear  getting  back  in  your  oAvn  good 
time.  You  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  remember  the  word 
and  action  I  shall  use  to  set  it  a-going.  In  the  portmanteau 
you  will  find  various  articles  which  may  be  useful  on  your 
journey ;  and  they  are  all  yours,  without  reserve.  If  you 
open  it  as  you  would  a  shell  of  green  peas,  you  will  find  it 
contains  three  jewel  boxes,  of  the  same  shape  and  size  as  a 
pea,  each  suspended  to  a  fine  thread,  which  sustains  them 
in  their  case  like  three  peas  in  a  pod,  so  that  they  are  in 


84  BEAN  FLOWER  AND  PEA  BLOSSOM 

no  danger  of  knocking  against  each  other  and  being 
damaged  during  a  journey.  It  is  a  fine  piece  of  work- 
manship: they  will  yield  to  the  pressure  of  your  finger, 
like  the  spring  of  my  carriage,  and  you  will  only  have  to 
sow  the  contents  in  a  hole  in  the  ground,  made  with  the 
point  of  your  weeding  hook,  and  immediately  whatever  you 
wish  to  have  shall  shoot  up,  sprout,  and  come  forth.  la 
not  that  a  miracle,  eh?  Only  remember,  that  when  the 
third  shall  be  used,  I  have  nothing  left  to  offer  you ;  for  I 
have  only  three  green  peas,  as  you  had  but  three  measures 
of  beans ;  and  the  best  girl  in 
the  world  can  only  bestow  what 
belongs  to  her.  Are  you  ready 
to  begin  your  journey  ?" 
Bean  Flower  having  made  a  sign 
of  assent,  for  he  had  lost  all 
power  of  speech,  Pea  Blossom 
clapped  her  right  hand  thumb 
against  her  middle  finger,  crying 
out  at  the  same  time,  "  Go  then, 
little  pea!"  And  the  little  pea 
was  upwards  of  fifteen  hundred  yards  from  the  scented 
field  of  Pea  Blossom  before  Bean  Flower  thought  he  had 
left  her,  and  he  looked  for  her  in  vain.  "  Alas !"  cried  he. 
Indeed  it  would  be  no  praise  to  the  rapid  progress  of 
the  little  pea,  to  say  it  advanced  with  the  speed  of  a  musket 
ball.  Woods,  towns,  hills,  and  seas,  vanished  far  more 
rapidly  on  its  course,  than  the  Chinese  shadows  of  Se- 
raphim before  the  wand  of  the  famous  magician  Sotomago. 
The  most  remote  horizon  had  hardly  become  visible 
before  it  sprang  to  meet  the  little  pea,  and  was  in  a 
moment  after  out  of  sight  behind  Bean  Flower.  When 
he  turned  his  head,  it  was  gone.  Finally,  he  had  several 
times  outstripped  the  sun ;  several  times  come  back  to  it, 
and  passed  it  again,  with  constant  changes  of  night  and 
day,  when  Master  Bean  Flower  began  to  suspect  that  he 


BEAN  FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM.  85 

had  left  behind  him  the  town  he  was  going  to,  and  the 
market  to  which  he  was  carrying  his  beans. 

"The  springs  of  this  carriage  are  rather  brisk,"  he 
suddenly  thought  within  himself;  for  my  little  readers 
have  not  forgotten  that  he  was  endowed  with  a  very  keen 
understanding.  "  It  started  off  at  random,  before  Miss 
Pea  Blossom  had  done  telling  me  where  I  was  to  go ;  and 
I  see  no  reason  for  it  stopping  throughout  the  course  of 

Zs  upon  ages ;  for  that  lovely  princess,  who  is  as  giddy  as 
is  young,  told  me  indeed  how  to  set  the  vehicle  in 
motion,  but  not  how  to  stop  it."  And  Bean  Flower  had 
tried  to  no  purpose  every  epithet  he  had  ever  heard 
uttered  by  the  carriers  and  mule  drivers.  The  plague  of 
a  carriage  went  on  faster  and  faster ;  and  while  he  raked 
up  his  memory  to  change  and  diversify  his  exclamations, 
the  carriage  sped  through  every  latitude,  and  in  little  time 
rode  over  ten  kingdoms. 

"  Plague  take  thee,  thou  vixen  of  a  carriage !"  exclaimed 
Bean  Flower,  and  the  carriage  rattled  onwards  from  the 
tropics  to  the  poles,  from  the  poles  to  the  tropics,  and 
through  every  circle  in  the  sphere,  without  any  regard  to 
the  noxious  changes  of  temperature.  It  was  enough  to 
roast  him  or  to  freeze  him  had  it  lasted;  but  Bean  Flower, 
as  we  have  often  repeated,  was  blessed  with  an  admirable 
intelligence.  "  Nay,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  since  Pea 
Blossom  has  hurled  her  carriage  through  the  world  by 
merely  saying,  {  Go  then,  little  pea ! '  perhaps  one  may 
stop  it  by  saying  the  contrary."  This  reasoning  was  very 
logical. 

"Stop  then,  little  pea!"  cried  Bean  Flower,  clapping 
his  right  hand  thumb  against  his  middle  finger,  as  he  had 
observed  Pea  Blossom  to  do. 

I  doubt  whether  a  learned  academy  would  have  argued 
more  cleverly.  The  little  pea  stopped  so  suddenly  that 
you  could  not  have  stopped  it  better  if  you  had  nailed  it 
to  the  ground.  It  did  not  stir.  Bean  Flower  alighted  from 


36 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND    PEA  BLOSSOM. 


his  carriage,  picked  it  up  carefully,  and  let  it  slip  into  a 
leathern  pouch,  which  he  carried  in  his  belt  to  put  in  the 
samples  of  his  beans.  But  first  he  took  off  the  port- 
manteau. The  spot  at  which  Bean  Flower's  carriage  had 
thus  fixed  itself  at  his  command,  has  not  been  described  by- 
travellers.  Bruce  marks  it  at  the  sources  of  the  Nile, 
Monsieur  Douville  at  Congou,  and  Monsieur  Caille  at 
Timbuctoo.  It  was  an  interminable  plain,  so  dry,  so 
rocky,  and  so  wild,  that  there  was  not  a  single  bush  to  lie 
under,  no  moss  of  the  desert  to  lay  one's  head  upon,  not  a 
berry  to  satisfy  hunger,  or  a  drop  of  water  to  slake  one's 
thirst ;  still  Bean  Flower  was  not  alarmed.  He  ripped  up 
his  portmanteau  very  neatly  with  his  nail,  and  took  out 
one  of  the  three  small  jewel  boxes  which  Pea  Blossom  had 
described  to  him.  Then  he  opened  it  as  he  had  opened 


the  carriage,  and  sowed  its  contents  in  the  ground  with 
the  point  of  his  Aveeding-hook.  "  Let  what  will  happen  of 
this,"  said  he,  "  I  sadly  want  a  tent  to  cover  me  to-night, 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM  37 

were  it  only  made  of  a  pea  plant  in  blossom;  a  slight 
repast  to  nourish  me,  were  it  only  a  pea  soup ;  and  a  bed 
to  lie  upon,  were  it  only  the  feathers  of  a  humming  bird : 
for  I  cannot  return  to  my  parents  to-day,  I  am  too  much 
pressed  by  hunger,  and  overcome  with  weariness." 

The  words  had  scarcely  passed  through  his  lips,  before 
he  saw  arise  out  of  the  sands  a  superb  tent  or  pavilion, 
having  the  shape  of  the  pea  plant,  which  arose,  and  grew 
up,  and  expanded  around,  and  leaned  here  and  there  on 
ten  golden  props,  scattering  about  in  all  directions  a 
graceful  tapestry  of  foliage,  enameled  with  pea  blossoms, 
and  rounded  into  numerous  arcades,  from  each  of  which 
hung  suspended  from  the  centre  of  the  arch,  a  rich  crystal 
lustre  filled  with  scented  wax  lights.  The  back  of  every 
arcade  was  adorned  with  a  Venetian  mirror  of  enormous 
size,  which  reflected  such  a  stream  of  light  as  would  have 
dazzled  the  eye  of  an  eagle  accustomed  even  to  the  noon- 
day sun. 

Beneath  the  feet  of  Bean  Flower,  a  pea  leaf  had  fallen 
accidentally  from  the  roof;  it  extended  into  a  magni- 
ficent carpet,  decorated  with  all  the  colours  of  the  rain- 
bow. Moreover,  this  carpet  was  covered  with  tables 
of  ebony  and  sandal  wood,  which  groaned  beneath  the 
weight  of  pastry  and  confectionery;  or  that  of  iced 
fruits  flavoured  with  choice  cordials ;  whilst  in  a  large 
gilt  china  cup  was  the  very  pea  soup  Bean  Flower  had 
wished  for. 

Amidst  this  display,  he  could  also  distinguish  his  bed, 
that  is  to  say,  the  humming  bird's  feather  which  he  had  so 
much  desired,  and  which  was  twinkling  in  a  corner,  like 
a  carbuncle  fallen  from  the  crown  of  the  Great  Mogul; 
and  yet  it  was  so  tiny  a  little  bed,  you  might  have  hid  it 
beneath  a  grain  of  corn.  Bean  Flower  thought  at  first 
that  this  couch  did  not  match  very  well  with  the  other 
conveniences  in  the  tent;  but,  as  he  continued  to  look  at 
the  humming  bird's  feather,  it  began  to  increase  in  size  so 


BEAN  FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


39 


fast,  that  it  soon  became  many  humming  birds'  feathers  one 
hand  in  depth;  it  seemed  to  be  a  couch  of  sparkling  gems, 
which  would  have  bent  under  the  pressure  of  a  butterfly 
had  it  alighted  upon  them. 

"Enough,  enough,"  said  Bean  Flower,  "enough  of 
your  humming  birds'  feathers ;  I  shall  sleep  too  well  as 
it  is." 

That  our  young  traveller  did  honour  to  his  banquet, 
and  that  he  lost  no  time  in  seeking  repose,  my  young 


readers  will  not  require  me  to  tell  them.  Love  did  run 
a  little  in  his  head:  but  at  twelve  years  old  love 
seldom  prevents  sleep,  and  Pea  Blossom,  whom  he  had 
scarcely  seen,  had  only  left  in  his  mind  the  image  of  a 
delightful  vision,  which  nought  but  sleep  could  restore 
to  his  fancy.  That  was  another  reason  why  he  should 
sleep.  Be  that  as  it  may,  Bean  Flower  was  too  pru- 
dent to  give  way  to  this  vain  and  idle  joy  before  he  had 
examined  the  outside  of  his  pavilion,  the  pomp  and  magni- 
ficence of  which  was  more  than  enough  to  draw  to  it  all 


40 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA   BLOSSOM. 


the  thieves  round  about ;  and  such  people  abound  in  every 
country  under  the  sun.  So  he  went  out  of  the  magic 
circle  with  his  weeding  hook  in  his  hand,  and  marched 
round  his  tent,  to  make  sure  of  the  good  state  of  his 
encampment. 

As  eoon  as  he  had  reached  the  furthest  frontier  (this 
was  a  small  ravine  formed  by  the  running  waters,  and 
--vv^-^stssffi^saffsysssbss^  over  which  a  kid  might  have 
skipped),  Bean  Flower  stood  still, 
chilled  with  that  shudder  which 
is  peculiar  to  men  of  spirit ;  for 
even  the  truest  courage  has  its 
share  in  that  terror  which  is  com- 
mon to  our  frail  humanity,  and 
only  summons  its  strength  after 
reflection.  And,  upon  my  word, 
there  was  a  sight  for  any  man 
to  reflect  upon. 

It  was  a  line  of  battle,  in  which 
amid  the  darkness  of  a  starlight 
night,  there  was  glistening  at  him  two  hundred  fixed  and 
flaming  eyes,  whilst  in  their  front  were  perpetually  running 
from  right  to  left,  and  then  from  left  to  right,  two  eyes  so 
sharp  and  oblique,  that  they  showed  by  their  expression' 
they  belonged  to  a  very  active  general. 

Bean  Flower  knew  nothing  of  Lavater,  Gall,  or 
Spurzheim ;  he  did  not  belong  to  the  Phrenological 
Society;  but  he  had  the  plain  natural  instinct  which 
teaches  all  created  beings  to  distinguish  the  countenance 
of  an  enemy ;  and  almost  at  the  first  glance  he  bestowed 
upon  the  commander-in-chief  of  that  hungry  herd  of 
wolves,  he  recognized  in  him  the  cowardly  coaxing  wolf 
who  had  so  craftily  swindled  him,  by  pretending  to  be 
a  philosopher  and  moralist,  out  of  his  last  measure  of 
beans. 

"Mr.  Wolf"  said  Bean  Flower,  "has  lost  no  time  in 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM.  41 

Collecting  his  troop,  and  pursuing  me  with  it ;  but  by  what 
contrivance  have  they  been  able  to  overtake  me,  so  many 
too  as  they  are,  unless  the  good-for-nothing  Avolves  have 
likewise  travelled  in  a  pea?  It  is  very  probable,"  he 
continued  with  a  sigh,  "that  the  mysteries  of  science  are 
not  unknown  to  the  wicked ;  and  now  I  think  of  it,  I 
would  not  swear  but  they  have  invented  these  mysteries 
in  order  to  initiate  the  good  people  in  their  own  detestable 
schemes  and  designs." 

Bean  Flower  was  slow  and  steady  in  his  enterprizes, 
but  prompt  and  sudden  in  his  resolves.  He  therefore 
snatched  the  portmanteau  out  of  his  pouch,  took  out  the 
second  pea,  opened  it  as  he  had  opened  the  first  pea,  and 
sowed  its  contents  in  the  earth  with  the  point  of  his 
weeding  fork.  "  Come  what  come  may"  said  he,  "but  I 
sadly  want  this  night  a  good  strong  wall,  even  were  it  no 
thicker  than  that  of  our  cottage  at  home;  and  a  very 
close  rail,  were  it  no  stronger  than  that  of  my  fences,  to 
protect  me  against  the  wolves." 

Then  sure  enough  walls  began  to  rise  up :  not  cottage 
walls,  but  palace  walls :  and  rails  sprang  up  before  every 
portico;  not  rails  in  the  shape  of  fences,  but  high  and 
lordly  rails  of  blue  steel,  with  gilt  shafts  and  points, 
through  which  neither  wolf,  badger,  nor  fox,  could 
have  poked  his  fine  pointed  snout  without  hurting  or 
wounding  it. 


After  this  check,  the  strategy  of  the  wolves  was  so 
hardly  put  to  it,  that  the  lupine  army  could  do  nothing  at 
all.  "So  after  a  few  feints  it  retired  in  disorder. 


42 


BEAN    FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


anxiety  as  to  this 
event    being    thus    re- 
lieved, Bean   Flower  re- 
turned to  his  sumptuous 
I1!11!  pavilion;  but  now  he  had 
i  to  pass  over  a  marble  court, 
~-   through  peristyles  lighted  up 
as  for  a  wedding,  staircases  which 
seemed  to  ascend   for  ever,   and 
galleries  which  had  no  end  to  them. 
Pie  was  overjoyed  when  he  reached 
this  pavilion  of  pea  blossoms  in  the 
centre  of  a  large  garden  so  blooming 
and  verdant, 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM.  43 

that  he  hardly  knew  it  again,  and  his  bed  of  humming 
birds'  feathers,  on  which,  in  presuming  he  slept  as  happy  as 
a  king,  let  nobody  say  that  I  exceed  the  truth. 


The  first  thing  he  aid  the  next  day,  was  to  explore  the 
magnificent  abode  that  he  had  found  in  a  little  pea,  in 
which  every  object,  however  trifling,  was  so  beautiful 


as  perfectly  to   amaze  him,  for  the  furniture  was   quite 
equal  to  the  external  appearance  of  the  pavilion.     He  in- 


44 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM 


epected  his  picture  gallery,  his  cabinet  of  antiquities,  his 


collection  of  medals,  his  insects,  his  shells,  and  his  library, 


all  of  which  were   still  to  him  wonders  both  new  and 
charming.     His  books  especially  delighted  him  on  account 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM.  45 

of  the  delicate  taste  which  had  governed  their  choice. 
The  finest  works  in  literature,  the  most  useful  in  science, 
were  collected  in  that  library  for  the  entertainment 
and  instruction  of  a  long  life, — as  the  adventures  of  the 
ingenious  Don  Quixote  de  la  Mancha,  and  Fairy  Tales 
of  every  description,  filled  with  beautiful  engravings ;  a 


collection  of  curious  and  amusing  Voyages  and  Travels,  the 
most  authentic  of  which  are  those  of  Gulliver  and  Robinson 
Crusoe ;  some  excellent  Almanacks ;  full  of  amusing  anec- 
dotes and  faultless  information,  as  to  the  moon,  tides,  and 
the  best  seasons  for  planting  and  sowing;  innumerable 
treatises,  written  in  the  clearest  and  most  simple  style,  on 
Agriculture,  Horticulture,  Fishing,  both  with  the  rod  and 
the  net,  and  the  art  of  taming  nightingales;  in  a  word, 
whatever  can  be  desired  when  a  man  has  learned  the  value 
of  books  and  the  spirit  of  their  authors.  There  were  no 
learned  writers  but  these,  no  other  philosophers,  no  other 
poets ;  for  this  incontrovertible  reason,  that  all  learning,  all 
philosophy,  all  poetry,  are  locked  up  in  them  and  nowhere 
else  :  I  give  you  my  word  for  it. 

Whilst  he  thus  proceeded  to  take  the  inventory  of  his 
wealth,  Bean  Flower  was  struck  by  the  reflection  of  his 
image  in  one  of  the  looking-glasses  with  which  every 
saloon  was  adorned.  Unless  the  looking-glass  was  a  story- 
teller, he  must  have  jrrown,  oh,  wonder !  upwards  of  three 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


inches  since  the  day  before;  and  the  dark  mustachoes 
which  shaded  his  upper  lip  clearly  manifested  that  he 
was  beginning  to  pass  from  robust  boyhood  to  manly 


youth.  He  was  a  good  deal  mystified  by  this  pheno- 
menon, and  was  still  wondering  at  it,  when  a  rich  clock, 
fixed  between  two  pier-glasses,  cleared  up  his  doubt  to  his 
great  grief;  for  by  one  of  the  needles 
which  marked  the  date  of  the  years, 
Bean  Flower  too  truly  saw  that  he 
had  really  become  six  years  older 
than  he  was.  "  Six  years ! "  he  ex- 
claimed; "wretch  that  I  am,  my 
poor  parents  must  have  died  of  old 
age,  or  perhaps  of  want  by  this 
time !  Alas  !  perhaps,  they  died  of 
grief  at  losing  me,  and  what  must 
they  have  thought,  in  their  last  mo- 
ments, of  my  cruel  desertion,  or  my  pitiable  distress?  I  now 
understand,  wicked  carriage,  how  you  go  so  far  and  so  fast, 
for  your  minutes  devour  and  consume  many  days  at  once  I 
Go  then,  go  then,  little  pea !"  he  added,  drawing  the  little 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM.  47 

pea  from  his  pouch,  and  darting  it  through  the  window. 
"Go  then,  detestable  little  pea,  so  far  that  one  may  never 
see  you  again!"  And  truly  I  believe  no  other  little  pea 
has  since  been  seen  shaped  like  a  post-chaise,  and  going  at 
the  rate  of  fifty  thousand  leagues  an  hour. 

Bean  Flower  came  down  the  marble  steps  much  sadder 
than  he  had  ever  felt  when  coming  down  the  ladder  from 
his  bean-loft.  He  left  the  palace  without  once  looking  at 
it;  and  walked  on  through  those  wild  and  desert  plains, 
without  minding  whether  the  wolves  had  not  pitched  their 
tents  there  to  threaten  him  with  a  blockade.  He  mused 
as  he  went  along,  beat  his  forehead  from  time  to  time  with 
his  hand,  and  sometimes  even  wept  with  grief. 


"  What  can  I  hope  for  any  more,  now  that  both  my 
parents  are  dead?"  said  he,  turning  his  portmanteau  list- 
lessly between  his  fingers, — "  now  that  Pea  Blossom  has 
been  married  six  years?  for  the  day  I  saw  her  she  had 
completed  her  tenth  year ;  and  that  is  the  age  at  which  the 
princesses  of  her  house  are  married !  Besides  her  choice 
was  made.  AY  hat  is  all  the  world  to  me?  my  world 
being  limited  to  a  cottage  and  a  bean-field,  which  you  will 
never  restore  to  me,  little  green  pea,"  he  added,  taking  it 


48  BEAN   FLOWER  AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 

from  the  pod,  "  for  the  happy,  happy  hours  of  childhood 
never  return.  Go  then,  little  green  pea,  go  where  God 
will  carry  you,  and  do  what  you  are  to  do  to  the  glory  of 
your  mistress,  since  I  have  lost  my  aged  parents,  my  cot- 
tage, my  bean-field,and  the  lovely  Pea  Blossom  !  Go,  little 
green  pea,  go  whither  you  please."  So  saying,  he  threw  it 
with  so  much  strength,  that  the  little  green  pea  might  easily 
have  overtaken  the  flying  carriage  pea,  had  that  been  its 

wish.  And  then 
Bean  Flower  fell 
on  the  ground 
with  grief  and  op- 
pression. When 
he  rose  again  the 
face  of  the  whole 
plain  had  altoge- 
ther changed.  It 
had  become,  as 
far  as  the  eye 
could  see,  a  vast 
sea  of  brown  and  smiling  verdure,  over  which  rolled,  like 
weaving  billows  when  kissed  by  the  breeze,  the  most  lovely 
white  Sowers,  a  boat-like  shape,  with  butterfly's  wings, 
tinted  with  violet  like  the  bean  flower,  or  with  rose  like 
the  pea  blossom ;  and  when  all  their  undulating  brows  bent 
together  to  the  wind,  all  these  tints  were  commingled  into 
a  new  and  unknown  colour,  a  thousand  times  more  beautiful 
than  that  of  the  loveliest  flower  garden.  Bean  Flower 
sprang  forward,  for  he  had  seen  every  thing  again ;  his  field 
which  was  enlarged,  his  cottage  which  was  improved,  his 
father  and  his  mother  who  were  still  living,  and  who  were 
hastening  to  meet  him,  with  all  the  speed  of  their  old  limbs, 
to  inform  him,  that  since  the  day  of  his  departure  they  had 
received  tidings  of  him  every  night,  besides  many  kind  pre- 
sents, which  soothed  their  existence,  and  good  hopes  of  his 
return,  which  had  prevented  them  from  dying  of  grief. 
Bean  Flower,  after  having  tenderly  embraced  them,  took 


BEAN   FLOWER  AND    PEA   BLOSSOM. 


49 


them  both  under  his  arms, 

and  led  the  way  to  his  palace. 

As  fast    as    they   drew  near 
to  it,   the  old  man  and  his  wife 
were  more  and  more  wonder-struck, 
and  Bean  Flower  was  afraid  of  dis-     * 
turbing  their  joy.      He  could  not,  how- 
ever, help  sighing,  as  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh ! 
had  you  but  seen  Pea  Blossom ;  but  it  is 
now  six  years  since  she  was  married." 

'*'  Since  I  was  married  to  thee," 
said  Pea  Blossom,  opening  both  portals, 
"  my  choice  was  made  at  that  time. 
Do  you  not  remember  it  ?  Come  in 
here,"  continued  she,  kissing  the  old  man 
and  his  wife,  who  were  lost  in  admira- 
tion at  her,  for  she  too  had  grown  in  six 
years,  and  so  the  story  points  out  that  she 
was  now  sixteen  —  "  Come 


in  to  your  son's 


dwellinj 


is  a  region 


this 
soul  and 


of 


50 


BEAN   FLOWER   AND   PEA  BLOSSOM. 


fancy  in  which  nobody  dies,  and  none  grow  older."     No 
better  news  could  have  been  told  to  those  poor  people. 

The  nuptial  festivities  were  duly  celebrated  with  all 
the  splendour  befitting  such  exalted  personages,  and  their 
abode  never  ceased  to  be  a  perfect  example  of  love,  con- 
stancy, and  happiness.  And  thus  finishes  a  fairy  tale. 


THE  IM®T  AHB  HUS  BE  IBS. 


"  I  CERTAINLY  shall  not  leave  these  mountains,"  said  I  to 
the  landlady,  when  we  had  reached  the  threshold  of  the 
inn-door  ;  "  I  shall  not  leave  these  mountains,"  I  repeated, 
"  until  I  have  seen  that  worthy  Mr.  Dubourg  you  speak 
of.  He  was  one  of  my  father's  most  cherished  friends.  It 
is  now  only  seven  o'clock,  and  nine  miles  in  such  fine 
weather  as  we  have  this  morning  are  soon  walked.  I  can 
very  well,  too,  spare  one  day  from  my  business.  He  would 
be  hurt  if  I  did  not  take  dinner  with  him  on  my  way.  Do  n't 
you  think  he  would?" 

"  To  be  sure  he  would,"  answered  the  dame,  "  he  would 
never  forgive  you  for  it,  since  he  sends  here  every  week  to 
know  when  you  are  coming." 

"  Nor  should  I  forgive  myself,  if  I  were  to  let  slip  an 
opportunity  of  testing  whether  my  former  prophecies  were 
good  for  any  thing.  I  foretold  five  years  ago  that  his 
daughter  Rosalie,  who  was  then  twelve,  would  become  one 
of  the  finest  girls  in  the  country  ;  and  fain  would  I  now  see 
if  the  dark  blue-eyed  lass  has  made  me  out  a  false  prophet." 

"  Take  my  word  for  it  she  has  not,"  cried  Dame  Gaulther. 
"  You  might  go  as  far  as  Besangon,  nay  even  to  Strasburg 


THE   IDIOT  AND   HIS   BIRDS. 


(this  was  the  good  daine's  antipodes),  and  not  meet  such 
another ;  and  then,  so  well  bred  too,  and  as  good  as  a  saint; 
but  take  care  of  yourself,  and  don't  return  here  in  despair, 
as  you  used  to  do  erewhile.  Handsome  as  you  are,  you 
might  for  once  lose  your  time  and  sigh  to  no  purpose,  for 
there  has  been  a  rumour,  these  two  months,  that  she  is 
going  to  be  married." 

"  Lor,  now !  Mrs.  Gaulther,  do  you  still  take  me  for  a 
fond  youth  ?  I,  who  am  turned  twenty  four,  and  have  both 
a  settled  fortune  and  a  solid  establishment  ?  Do  you  think 
that  a  lawyer  in  good  practice  is  as  soft  hearted  as  a  hungry 
barrister  without  a  brief  to  occupy  him,  or  an  attorney's 
clerk  ?  Cheer  up,  worthy  dame,  and  just  show  me  the  way 
to  Mr.  Dubourg's  seat,  for  I  did  not  know  before  that  his 
country  house  was  so  near." 

"  You  will  find  your  way  easily  enough  for  the  first  half 
of  the  road,"  returned  she.  "  You  must  keep  the  narrow 
path  that  runs  through  the  meadows,  by  yonder  streamlet 
bordered  with  willows ;  but  as  soon  as  you  get  to  the  hillock 
at  the  end  of  the  vale,  you  must  turn  aside ;  you  will  then 
see  a  wood  before  you,  which,  when  you  have  crossed,  you 
will  catch  the  first  view  of  the  castle.  Now  as  this  wood 


THE  IDIOT  AND   HIS  BIRDS.  53 

is  only  frequented  by  the  woodmen,  who,  in  their  journeys 
to  and  fro,  have  formed  several  cross-ways,  I  have  been  told 
that  the  country  people  hereabouts  sometimes  go  astray  in 
it ;  but  there  are  plenty  of  cottages  and  huts  on  the  slorts 
of  the  wood,  and  you  will  easily  obtain  a  guide." 

Much  edified  by  these  useful  instructions,  I  waved  my 
hand  to  the  landlady,  and  set  out ;  and  went  along  musing 
and  spouting  fine  passages  for  the  first  act  of  a  new  tragedy, 
with  that  delightful  absence  of  mind  which  none  but 
poets  can  appreciate.  Thus,  after  one  hour's  walk  I  had 
strayed  far  enough  from  the  little  path  that  ran  through 
the  meadow,  and  was  very  glad  to  find  that  the  hillock 
at  the  end  of  the  vale  had  not  wandered  like  me  from  its 
place. 

After  rambling  some  time  by  the  outskirts  of  the  wood, 
and  wending  my  way  through  so  thick  a  tuft  that  I  cou'd 
not  conceive  how  any  thing  larger  than  a  hare,  followed  by 
the  hounds,  could  have  opened  a  passage  through  it,  I  was 
struck  by  the  sight  of  a  small  white  cottage,  newly  plas- 
tered, which  stood  close  against  the  wood,  and  around 
which  was  a  square  palisade,  with  vine-leaves  and 
streaming  garlands  of  convolvulus  and  honeysuckle,  while 
branches  of  sweet-briar,  laden  with  blossoms,  were  peep- 
ing through  the  closely-crossed  palings.  I  advanced  a 
few  steps,  and  came  to  the  entrance  of  this  pretty  little 
dwelling,  which  seemed  just  large  enough  for  two  or 
three,  or  four  inmates,  and  not  more.  On  a  bench,  close 
by  the  door,  slightly  raised  above  a  small  patch  of  kitchen- 
garden,  sat  a  young  man.  I  took  time  to  consider  him, 
because  he  was  not  looking  at  me.  He  was,  probably, 
too  much  occupied  even  to  notice  my  presence. 

This  young  man  was  as  handsome  as  one  of  those 
angels  we  dream  about  when  we  have  done  a  good  deed. 
He  appeared  'delicate  and  weak,  and  yet  his  mild,  pale  face, 
with  its  cluster  of  flaxen  curls,  was  capable  of  a  manly 
expression,  and  in  it  one  could  still  trace  a  habit  of  reflec- 


54  THE   IDIOT  AND   HIS  BIRDS. 

tion  and  a  resolute  spirit.     This  look  set  me  musing  as  tfc  j 
its  cause. 

At  length  he  raised  his  eyes  and  looked  steadfastly  upo  1 
me.  He  moved,  as  if  to  rise ;  but  I  hastened  to  prevei  1 
him,  because  I  thought  he  looked  ill. 

"Excuse  me,  young  friend,"  said  I  to  him,  "but  ca .  « 
you  explain  to  me,  without  rising,  the  way  to  Mr.l 
JDubourg's.  The  house  cannot  be  far  off." 

"Mr.  Dubourg's  house?"  replied  he,  at  length,  as  ill 
collecting  a  few  scattered  ideas.     "Dubourg?  the  houstS 
of  Mr.   Dubourg? — Ah!    ah!"    he   continued,   laughing, 
"  there  was  once  a  beautiful  house  of  that  name,  which  I 


used  to  live  in,  when  a  little  boy.  There,  too,  it  was  1 
first  saw  angels  in  the  shape  of  women,  flowers  of  every 
season,  and  the  merry  warbling  birds.  —  But  that  was 
another  world  to  this." 


THE  IDIOT  AND   HIS  BIRDS.  55 

He  stopped,  and  letting  fall  his  head  in  his  open  hands, 
j  irgot  that  I  stood  beside  him. 

j     I  then  felt  conscious  that  he  was  an  idiot,  or  an  inno- 

,  ;nt,  as  they  say  in  different  parts.    What  a  strange  world 

ours,  to  repulse  those  harmless  beings  who  do  no  one  harm! 

At  the  same  moment  the  door  was  opened  by  a  woman 

bout  fifty  years  of  age,  better  clad  than  the  common  sort 

vf  country  women. 


"  What !  Baptist,"  said  she,  "  do  you  greet  a  traveller 
without  offering  him  milk  and  fruit,  and  requesting  him  to 
honour  our  poor  roof  with  his  company,  whilst  he  takes  a 
moment's  shelter  and  rest?" 


56  THE   IDIOT   AND   HIS   BIRDS.     • 

"Oh!  madam!"  cried  I,  "do  not  upbraid  him,  I  beg 
you.  I  have  not  been  here  two  seconds,  and  yet  his  recep- 
tion has  touched  me  so  deeply  that  I  can  never  forget  it." 

Baptist  had  not  heard  even  his  mother:  he  had  re- 
lapsed into  his  thoughts ;  his  arms  were  folded,  his  head 
hung  upon  his  breast,  and  he  was  muttering  some  indistinct 
words  that  I  could  not  unravel. 

I  followed  the  good  woman  into  a  pretty  large  room, 
extremely  neat,  which  must  have  been  the  best  apartment 
in  the  house.  She  made  me  sit  down  on  a  kind  of  chair  of 
state,  the  seat  of  which  was  prettily  interwoven  with  yellow 
and  blue  straw,  whilst  she  dismissed  to  an  adjacent  room  a 
whole  flight  of  small  birds  from  the  fields  and  hills,  that 
my  approach  had  hardly  disturbed,  and  which  obeyed  her 
with  an  eagerness  charming  to  behold,  so  perfectly  tame 
had  they  become. 

She  then  repeated  her  invitation  to  take  refreshments, 
and  on  my  second  refusal  she  wished  to  know  in  what 
respect  she  could  serve  me. 

"  I  was  telling  your  son  when  you  came  out,"  replied  I, 
"  but  he  quite  forgot  me.  Poor  child  !  he  seems  to  be  very 
badly  afflicted.  Has  he  been  long  in  the  same  state  ?" 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  she,  wiping  away  a  big  tear,  "  nor 
is  he  so  at  all  times.  He  is  always  sad,  as  sad  as  he  is 
good,  my  poor  Baptist :  yet  there  is  no  want  of  connexion 
between  his  thoughts  and  actions,  unless  certain  words  that 
I  am  careful  not  to  utter  before  him,  restore  him  to  his 
fits.  How  it  is  these  words  disturb  him,  I  cannot  tell.  I 
avoid  them  and  know  no  more.  He  was  born  so  happily 
gifted,  as  to  bless  us  all,  and  promise  honour  to  our  old 
age,  but  the  Lord  has  thought  fit  to  revoke  all  those  fair 
promises." 

Fast  flowed  the  worthy  matron's  tears,  as  she  uttered 
these  last  words.  I  took  her  hand,  and  begged  her  to 
forgive  me  for  having  recalled  so  much  bitter  grief. 

"  I  must  tell  vou,  sir,  since  you  are  so  kind  as  to  take 


THE   IDIOT  AND   HIS  BIRDS.  67 

an  interest  in  my  poor  Baptist,"  she  replied  in  a  calmer 
tone,  "  that  my  husband,  Joseph  Montaubon,  was  the  best 
workman  in  these  parts  as  a  builder.  Still,  for  all  that,  we 
were  very  poor,  because  the  times  were  very  hard,  and 
work  was  scarce,  and  my  family,  which  was  of  a  better 
class  than  Joseph's,  had  suffered  still  more  severely  through 
the  troubles  of  the  times.  We  hardly  knew  what  to  trust 
to,  when  by  chance  a  rich  country  gentleman  employed 
my  husband  to  build  a  splendid  house,  that  you  may  see  in 
the  wood.  When  the  house  was  built  to  the  roof,  my 
unhappy  Joseph  got  up  himself  to  the  top,  as  head  work- 
man, to  set  up,  as  the  custom  is,  the  bouquet  and  flags  of 
honour.  He  had  just  reached  the  pinnacle,  when  a  piece 
of  roofing,  which,  to  our  great  misfortune,  had  been  left  in 
a  loose  state,  slid  and  gave  way  beneath  him.  He  fell — 
and  died !  Mr.  Dubourg,  who  was  then,  and  still  is,  the 
owner  of  the  building,  was  sorely  grieved  at  our  cruel 
bereavement.  He  ordered  the  workmen  to  build  for  my 
son  and  me  this  little  dwelling,  which,  with  the  fertile  piece 
of  ground  it  stands  upon,  he  made  over  to  us,  besides 
granting  us  a  pension  to  raise  us  above  want.  That  was 
not  all.  He  determined  to  take  charge  of  Baptiste,  who 
was  then  only  five  or  six  years  old,  and  who  already 
charmed  and  delighted  every  body,  thanks  to  his  lively 
humour  and  pretty  face.  So  Baptist  was  brought  up 
and  educated  with  the  same  care,  and  under  the  same 
teachers,  as  Rosalie,  the  lovely  daughter  of  his  benefactor, 
three  years  younger  than  he.  Thus  things  went  on  for 
ten  years,  and  Baptist  had  turned  his  time  to  so  much 
account,  that  the  best  judges  acknowledged  he  had  acquired 
many  advantages  to  make  his  way  in  the  world. 

"  One  day  Mr.  Dubourg  came  here,  and  said  to  me,  in 
a  mild,  but  serious  voice :  *  Dame  Montaubon,  you  are  a 
sensible  woman,  and  will  feel  that  it  is  time  now  to  sepa- 
rate your  Baptist  from  my  Rosalie.  He  is  sixteen,  she  is 
thirteen  and  more.  These  two  children  are  very  near  the 


58  THE   IDIOT  AND   HIS   BIRDS. 

age  wnen  love  begins  to  be  felt;  although  brought  up 
together  like  sister  and  brother,  they  well  know  they  are 
not,  and  I  have,  perhaps,  been  tardy,  as  it  is,  in  separating 
them.  You  must,  therefore,  take  your  son  home  again, 
my  good  woman,  until  I  have  got  him  the  respectable 
situation  he  has  learned  and  merited  to  fill  by  his  attention 
to  his  studies.  Believe  me,  we  must  even  proceed  further 
still  in  our  cautions,  our  children  must  learn  to  live  apart, 
that  by  and  by  they  may  be  able  to  bear  a  total  separation. 
Tell  Baptist  I  shall  always  esteem  him  to  the  last,  and  let  him 
understand,  as  none  but  a  mother's  heart  and  mind  can  do, 
that  I  have  private  motives  for  keeping  him  away  from  me. 
Lastly,  as  the  sight  of  my  house  would  only  shock  his  feel- 
ings, bid  him  not  approach  nearer  to  it  than  the  spot  we 
call  the  Bee,  where  the  house  is  still  hidden  by  the  trees. 
As  for  his  obedience,  you  may  trust  to  it,  for  he  would  die 
rather  than  break  his  word.' 

"  '  I  know,'  continued  he,  rising  to  depart,  '  that  your 
expenses  will  increase  by  this  change,  but  that  will  not 
continue,  as  Baptist  is  favourably  known  to  my  friends, 
and  cannot  remain  many  months  without  employment. 
Meanwhile,  take  these  hundred  crowns,  that  he  may  not 
be  too  suddenly  deprived,  in  your  little  retreat,  of  those 
comforts  to  which  he  has  been  accustomed  for  so  many 
years ;  and  at  all  times  rely  upon  my  friendship.' 

"  Having  said  this,  he  left  the  purse  and  went  away, 
without  heeding  my  entreaties  to  take  it  back 

"  This  was  at  the  very  period  when  my  poor  boy  used 
to  come  home  once  every  year  to  spend  a  few  weeks  with  me; 
he  always  brought  with  him  his  books  and  instruments.  I 
was  very  happy !  So  he  did  not  feel  surprised  at  his  customary 
removal.  Never  had  he  looked  so  handsome,  so  full  of 
spirits,  or  so  satisfied  with  every  body  and  every  thing, 
though  he  had  always  been  of  a  shy  and  serious  temper 
from  his  childhood ;  and  for  several  days  he  continued  so. 
One  thing  only  made  me  uneasy,  he  studied  too  much,  and 


THE   IDIOT  AND  HIS   BIRDS.  59 

1  was  afraid  his  health  might  give  way  to  such  incessant 
toil.  *  You  have  time  enough,'  said  I  to  him  one  evening, 
'  to  turn  over  and  rummage  your  books !  You  shall  not 
leave  me  again  until  you  get  some  employment.'  And 
now,  having  broken  the  ice,  I  repeated  what  Mr.  Dubourg 
had  said  to  me 

"  When  I  had  done,  Baptist  smiled,  but  did  not  answer ; 
he  then  said  his  prayers,  kissed  me,  and  went  quietly  to  bed. 

"  The  next  day,  and  on  the  folloAving  days,  he  appeared 
dejected,  and  did  not  speak.  This  behaviour  did  not 
surprise  me,  for  I  had  often  seen  him  so. 

"About  a  week  after,  however  (it  is  now  four  years  since 
then),  I  thought  I  observed  that  his  mind  was  affected. 
Unhappy  mother !  it  was  what  I  dreaded  and  foresaw 
when,  in  spite  of  my  complaints,  he  persisted  in  his  studies. 
From  this  time  he  gave  up  his  books ;  but  it  was  too  late. 
He  would  utter  speeches  that  had  no  meaning,  or  which 
signified  things  that  I  could  not  understand.  He  would 
laugh  or  weep  without  reason ;  he  was  never  happy  but  by 
himself;  he  would  speak  to  the  trees,  to  the  birds,  as  if 
they  minded  him  and  understood  him,  and  what  I  would 
not  dare  to  say  to  you  had  you  not  witnessed  it,  the  birds 
seemed  to  know  his  meaning,  to  judge  by  the  ease  with 
which  they  suffered  themselves  to  be  caught.  May  it  not 
be,  sir,  that  Providence,  who  makes  these  little  creatures 
avoid  their  enemies  by  one  instinct,  has  given  them  another 
to  distinguish  the  innocent  who  would  not  do  them  an 
injury,  and  who  loves  them  only  for  the  sake  of  loving 
them?" 

This  story  had  touched  me  to  the  heart,  as  it  would 
still  touch  others,  had  I  the  power  to  repeat  it,  as  I  heard 
it,  in  its  simple  and  moving  eloquence. 

"  I  have  too  long  trifled  with  your  patience,"  continued 
the  mother ;  "  let  us  return,  I  entreat  you,  to  the  subject  of 
your  inquiry.  Every  thing  here  is  at  your  disposal." 

"I  want  nothing,   nothing  at  all,"  returned  I,  with 


60  THE   IDIOT   AND   HIS   BIRDS. 

sorrow.  "All  I  wanted  to  ask  for,  was  my  way  to  Mr 
Dubourg's,  and  my  road  back,  for  I  must  absolutely  return 
this  very  night." 

"  You  could  not  have  applied  to  any  one  who  was  better 
able  to  point  it  out,  sir ;  you  are  close  to  the  place  you 
seek,  but  the  path  is  not  easy  to  find.  Baptist  shall  be  your 
guide.  Not  a  day  goes  by  but  he  visits  the  Bee,  up  to  a 
spot  which  I  have  enjoined  him  never  to  pass  beyond,  and 
this  is  the  very  hour  he  sallies  forth.  All  I  beg  of  you  is 
not  to  mention  Mr.  Dubourg's  name,  because  it  seems  to 
me  that  the  recollection  of  his  benefactor  is  hurtful  to  my 
poor  boy's  reason." 

I  promised  I  would  not,  and  she  immediately  struck 
her  hands  twice,' when  all  the  little  birds  I  had  seen  shortly 
before,  flew  to  the  door,  singing  as  they  came  forwards. 

"  It  is  not  you  I  want  yet,"  exclaimed  she,  "  impatient 
little  ones !  your  seeds  are  not  yet  picked." 

Then  she  struck  her  hands  a  third  time. 

At  this  latter  signal,  Baptist  came  in,  bowed  to  me, 
went  up  to  his  mother,  sat  down  upon  her  lap,  and  threw 
one  of  his  arms  round  her  neck 

"  So  there  you  are  my  good  handsome  boy,"  said  his 
mother,  kissing  his  forehead.  "  Look,  sir,  is  he  not  a  nice 
dear  child !  a  good  and  gentle  child  !  as  he  will  be  as  long 
as  he  lives,  just  as  he  used  to  be  in  his  cradle !  Now,  sir,  do 
you  think  I  have  any  reason  to  complain?" 

She  wept  for  all  she  said. 

"  But  no  matter,  Baptist ;  you  must  take  some  exercise, 
for  you  took  none  yesterday,  though  the  air  was  so  warm 
and  the  sun  so  bright  and  cheerful !  I  never  saw  so  many 
butterflies  about.  And,  besides,  you  know  we  have  two 
green  canary  birds,  newly  hatched,  without  mates,  and 
you  have  long  wished  to  replace  your  poor  goldfinch,  who 
died  of  old  age  !" 

The  youth  then  testified  by  his  gestures  and  shouts  of 
joy  that  his  mother  only  anticipated  his  wishes. 


THE   IDIOT  AND   HIS  BIRDS.  61 

"  Then  go  now  and  put  on  your  red  gaiters  and  your 
Polish  cap  with  its  pretty  gold  tassel,  to  do  honour  to 
this  gentleman,  and  show  him  the  way  to  the  Bee,  and 
there  you  must  stay  for  him  till  he  returns.  I  need  not 
tell  you  it  would  grieve  me  very  much,  if  you  went  any 
further." 

I  looked  at  Baptist  with  a  curious  wish  to  know  what 
effect  this  forbidding  would  produce  on  him ;  for  I  thought 
I  had  detected  his  secret  in  his  mother's  narrative.  But  I 
could  not  perceive  that  the  name  of  the  Bee  called  up  any 
thing  to  his  mind.  He  went  and  put  on  his  Polish  cap 
and  his  red  woollen  gaiters,  then  came  in  again,  embraced 
his  good  mother,  and  ran  on  before  me  whistling  as  he  went; 
and  on  hearing  his  youthful  voice,  all  the  choristers  of  the 
wood  began  to  sing  and  nutter  around  him.  I  readily 
conceived  that  they  would  have  lighted  on  his  cap 
and  shoulders,  had  I  not  been  there  to  disturb  their 
confidence. 

After  half  an  hour's  walk,  we  crossed  through  the 


woodmen's  cottages ;  and  the  children  flocked  about  us  on 
our  passage. 

"  Oh !  there  he  goes,"  cried  they,  "  the  silly  boy  with 
his  red  gaiters,  Dame  Montaubon's  son,  who  hunts  without 


THE   IDIOT  AND   HIS   BIRDS. 


nets.     Good  luck  to  your  sport,  brave  Baptist !    bring  us 
home  some  pretty  bird,  either  a  large  grey  owl,  or  a 


ring-dove  or  a  jay,  or  else  one  of  those  naughty  wood-peckers 
that  bore  holes  in  our  trees;  nay,  were  it  but  a  jack-daw." 
"No,  no,"  replied  Baptist,  "you 
shall  have  no  more  of  my  birds 
as  you  used,  and  I  am  very 
sorry  I  ever  gave  you  any.  You 
.^  shut  them  up  in  cages,  instead 
!i  ^.  of  keeping  them  by  kindness. 
You  cut  °ff  ^fr  wings  and  put 
them  in  pain!  You  shall  have 
no  more  birds  of  mine.  How  good  and  gentle  is  the  little 
bird  that  flies!  How  cruel  and  wicked  is  the  boy  who 
cages  it,  clips  its  wings,  kills  it,  and  eats  it." 

Then  Baptist  went  forward  once  more  amidst  the  loud 
laughter  of  those  wretched  children,  who  wondered  no 
doubt  to  see  him  every  day  grow  more  stupid  and  silly. 
When  we  had  reached  the  Bee,  the  youth  stopped  short 


THE  IDIOT  AND  HIS  BIRDS.  63 

as  if  a  bar  of  iron  had  stood  before  him ;  he  even  fell  back 
a  few  paces,  and  turned  his  face  to  the  forest  calling  out  to 
his  birds. 

"Oh!  oh!"  said  he,  "where  are  you  then,  my  pretty 
ones,  my  pets,  my  darlings  1  Where  are  you  young  thistle- 
finches  ?  where  are  you  Rosetta  ?•  where  are  you  Finetta  ? 
Must  I  believe  you  no  longer  love  me,  ungrateful  birds, 
or  that  the  savage  owl  has  eaten  you  up!  Come  to  me 
little  birds,  come,  my  pretty  birds  all !  I  have  two  green 
canary  birds  to  mate  with  you  !  Here,"  continued  he, 
throwing  his  cap  upon  the  grass,  and  letting  his  long 
fair  locks  flow  over  his  shoulders  ;  "  sleep  here,  my 
children,  without  fearing  either  the  fowler  or  the  snake, 
for  I  am  to  watch  over  you  like  a  mother  watches  over 
her  children." 

Whilst  he  was  speaking,  I  had  walked  a  little  aside, 
and  was  delightedly  surveying  the  lovely  waters  of  the 
river  Ain,  when  the  innocent's  address  to  his  birds  drew  me 
from  my  contemplation :  I  stole  up  silently  with  timid 
and  halting  steps  to  his  cap,  inwardly  smiling  at  my  own 
credulity.  The  little  thistle-finches  were  there  never- 
theless. They  nestled  down  pressing  against  each  other, 
read  out  their  wings  to  shelter  themselves  as  well  as 
y  could,  like  a  tortoise  hiding  itself  within  its  shell, 
and  hardly  allowed  the  glimmer  of  their  timid  eyes  to 
be  seen.  I  therefore  withdrew  to  relieve  their  anxiety  and 
alarm. 

"  Although  you  have  had  a  lucky,  and  prosperous  hunt," 
eaid  I  to  Baptist,  "it  is  very  likely  you  may  not  return 
this  morning  to  the  White  Cottage  of  the  Wood.  Your 
mother  advised  you  to  take  exercise,  so  I  hope  to  find  you 
again  on  my  return ;  though,  as  I  have  sufficiently  noticed 
my  way  not  to  mistake  it,  I  should  be  sorry  to  detain  you 
against  your  wish." 

Baptist  sat  down  by  the  side  of  his  Polish  cap,  and 
betook  himself  again  to  his  thistle-finches. 


64  THE  IDIOT  AND  HIS  BIKDS. 


I  stood  watching  him  for  a  moment,  before  resuming 
my  way,  when  I  heard  my  name  called  out  by  a  group  of 
horsemen  who  were  riding  along  the  road  in  the  same 
direction  as  I  was  bent  upon. 

"What,  Maximilian  here!"  said  they,  "Maximilian  on 
the  banks  of  the  blue  Ain !  But  come  along !  the  friends  of 
Dubourg  must  not  miss  the  marriage  blessing  of  the  beau- 
tiful Rosalie,  and  it  is  past  noon  already." 

I  was  too  anxious  about  Baptist  to  reply  directly. 
Poor,  unhappy  boy !  thought  I.  And  truly  he  had  fixed 
his  eyes  steadfastly  upon  them,  but  they  contained  no  de- 
finite expression.  I  waited;  I  thought  I  saw  him  smile, 
and  then  rejoin  his  birds.  I  trusted  he  had  either  not 
heard  or  not  understood  them  and  I  followed  my  new 


THE   IDIOT  AND  HIS   BIRDS. 


companions  and  fellow-travellers,  without  losing  sight  of 
him.     He  appeared  quite  calm  and  easy. 

The  wedding  was  very  gay  as  a  wedding  should  be. 
Men  never  look  so  happy  as  on  the  day  when  they  lay 
down  their  liberty.  Rosalie  was  a  charming  creature,  still 
more  lovely  than  I  had  fancied  her,  but  yet  more  serious 


and  thoughtful  than  most  young  girls  appear  on  their 
wedding-days.  Her  soul  was  probably  revolving  those 
happy,  happy  days  of  childhood  when  she  may  have  dreamt 
of  other  loves  and  a  different  husband. 

Concealing  my  escape  amidst  the  hurry  and  confusion 
of  the  feast,  I  set  out  on  my  return  as  early  as  I  could, 
for  t  was  anxious  to  see  poor  Baptist  again. 


66  THE   IDIOT  AND   HIS  BIRDS. 

When  I  came  to  the  corner  of  the  wood,  near  the  spot 
where  the  Bee  sinks  deeply  into  the  earth,  I  was  surprised 
to  see  upon  the  river  several  light  swift  boats,  which  I  had 
not  remarked  in  the  morning ;  I  presumed  they  belonged 
to  some  country  people  who  were  exerting  themselves  to 
supply  Mr.  Dubourg's  house  with  fish  during  the  nuptial 
festivities.  Suddenly  the  boats  drew  together,  the  country 
people  came  out  upon  the  bank,  and  a  tolerably  large  throng 
collected  round  something  there.  I  am  not  naturally  in- 
quisitive ;  and  yet  I  ran  up  to  them. 

"  It  is  really  he,"  muttered  an  old  fisherman,  the  poor 
idiot  with  his  red  gaiters,  the  son  of  Dame  Montaubon,  who 
must  have  drowned  himself  whilst  running  after  some 
swallow  on  the  wing,  without  thinking  of  the  river  before 
him.  Baptist,  the  good,  the  virtuous  Baptist  I  see  what  he 
is  come  to !" 

"  Stop !  stop !"  said  I,  rousing  myself  to  think  and  act,  and 
rushing  towards  the  body,  "  Perhaps  he  is  not  dead  yet !" 

"How  can  that  be,  my  good  Sir?"  replied  a  second 
fisherman,  "  since  one  of  our  children  it  was  who  stood  where 
we  are  and  saw  somebody  at  a  distance  chasing  a  bird  and 
run  after  it  into  the  river,  at  the  moment  when  the  proces- 
sion of  Mr.  Dubourg's  friends  began  to  enter  the  wood  this 
morning.  On  hearing  the  little  fellow's  cries  we  ran  up, 
and  have  spent  seven  hours  in  looking  for  the  body,  and 
have  only  just  found  it.  He  is  dead,  indeed,  and  all  hope 
is  over !" 

'*  How  glad  I  am !"  cried  a  little  thoughtless  urchin,  some 
eight  years  old,  running  toward  the  wood.  "  I  know  where 
he  has  left  his  Polish  cap,  which  is  brimful  like  a  nest  of 
little  green  canary  birds." 

When  next  I  passed  through  the  country,  the  White 
Cottage  of  the  Wood  was  shut  up  and  deserted,  the  little 
birds  no  longer  fluttered  about  it,  Baptist's  mother  was  gone, 
and  none  could  tell  what  had  become  of  her. 


1    'A  "f^  ^7    ^  ljJ  ^~l  ^  ^  •"'  ^  •  C' 
ILsirAi./  U      I£i5£iiri   U   tPJir^   Q) 

H03THY  BROTH. 


WHO    AND    WHAT   THE    GOOD    LADY 
BERTHA   WAS. 

THERE  was  once  upon  a  time  a 
valiant  knight,  called  Osmond  of 
Koeeniberg,  who  chose  for  his  wife 


GOOD  LADY  BERTHAS  HONEY  BROTH. 


I  know  that  Bertha  could  never  have  been  compared  with 
the  high-born  ladies  of  our  time,  though  she  was  surely  as 
noble  as  the  noblest  of  them  all ;  but  she  could  only  speak 
in  good  old  German,  she  could  not  sing  Italian  songs,  nor 
could  she  read  French  novels,  nor  dance  the  gallopade, 
nor  waltz,  nor  do  the  polka ;  but,  instead  of  these,  she  was 
good,  gentle,  full  of  tender  pity,  and  careful  that  not 
even  a  breath  should  tarnish  the  bright  mirror  of  her  fame. 
Ard  when  she  passed  through  a  village,  not  in  a  fine  open 
carriage,  with  a  lapdog  on  the  front  seat,  but  on  foot,  with 


a  bag  containing  alms-money,  "a  God  reward  you"  from 
the  old  man,  the  widow,  or  the  orphan, 
sounded  more  sweetly  to  her  ear  than 
the  most  melodious  ballad  of  the  most 
celebrated  minstrel;  for  which  bal- 
lad, however,  a  piece  of  gold  has  been 
paid  by  the  same  people  who  have 
refused  a  small  copper  coin  to  the 
beggar  that  stood  by,  half  naked  and 
shivering,  with  his  tattered  cap  in  hia 
hand. 


THE   COBOLDS. 


ND  thus  it  was  that  the  blessings  of 
the  whole  country  round  about,  fell 
like  a  gentle  dew  of  happiness  upon 
Bertha  and  her  spouse.  Golden  har- 
vests studded  their  fields,  their  vine 
trees  bent  under  the  burden  of 
enormous  bunches  of  grapes,  and 
when  perchance  some  dark  cloud, 
laden  with  hail  or  lightning,  came 
towards  their  castle,  an  invisible 
~-^-^  breeze  blew  it  off  im- 


mediately  towards  the  dwelling  of  some  wicked  noble, 
above  which  it  would  burst,  and  lay  waste  the  land. 

Now  who  was  it  blew  the  dark  cloud  away,  and  who 
protected  from  lightning  and  hail  the  domains  of  Count 
Osmond  and  Good  Lady  Bertha  ?  I  will  tell  you. 

It  was  the  dwarfs  of  the  castle. 

You  must  know,  my  good  boys  aiid  girls,  that,  a  long 
while  ago,  there  was  in  Germany  a  race  of  good  little 
genii,  who  unfortunately  have  since  disappeared;  the  tallest 
of  whom  scarcely  measured  six  inches,  and  who  were 
called  Cobolds.  These  good  little  genii,  who  were  as  old 
as  the  world,  loved  to  frequent  those  castles  above  all, 
whose  lords  and  masters  were,  after  God's  own  heart,  good 


GOOD  LADY  BERTHAS 


and  kind  themselves.  They  hated  those  who  were  naughty 
and  wicked,  and  punished  them  in  a  proportionate  degree ; 
whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  they  protected  with  all  their 

might,  and  this 
extended  over  the 
elements,  one  and 
all,  those  whose 
good  nature  re- 
sembled their 
own.  This  is  why 
these  little  dwarfs 
who,  time  out  of 
mind,  had  dwelt 
in  the  castle  of 
Wistgaw,  and 
who,  therefore, 
had  known  their 
fathers,  grandfa- 
thers, and  all  their  ancestry,  were  so  very  fond  of  Count 
Osmond  and  his  Good  Lady  Bertha,  and  why  they  used 
to  blow  far  away  from  their  happy  domains  the  black 
cloud  of  hail  and  thunder 


THE    OLD    CASTLE. 

One  day  Lady  Bertha  went  to  her  husband,  and  said  to 
him :  "  My  dear  lord,  our  castle 
is  growing  old,  and  threatens  to 
fall  to  pieces ;  we  cannot  safely 
stay  any  longer  in  this  tottering 
mansion,  and  I  think  if  your  wis- 
dom approves  of  it, that  we  ought 
to  build  us  another  dwelling." 

"  I  am  of  your  opinion," 
answered  the  Knight;  "but 
one  thing  makes  me  uneasy." 

"  What  is  that  ?"asked  Bertha. 


HONEY  BROTH. 


"  Although  you  have  never  set  eyes  on  them,  you  must 
surely  have  heard  tell  of  those  good  Cobolds  Avho  dwell  in 
the  vaults  of  our  castle.  My  father  heard  his  grandfather, 
who  had  it  from  one  of  his  ancestors,  say,  that  these  little 
genii  were  the  blessing  of  our  house ;  now  it  may  be  that 
they  have  grown  used  to  this  old  pile ;  and  if  \v(  were  to 
anger  them  by  the  disturbance,  who  knows  but  they  might 
leave  us,  and  then,  perhaps,  our  happiness  might  go  along 
with  them." 

Bertha  thought  these  observations  were  very  prudent, 
so  she  and  her  husband  determined  to  inhabit  the  castle 
as  it  was,  rather  than  to  disoblige  in  any  way  the  good 
little  genii. 

THE    EMBASSY. 

The  following  night,  the  Good  Lady  Bertha  and  Count 
Osmond  were  fast  asleep  in  their  large  canopy-bed,  with 
its  four  twisted  posts,  when  they  heard  a  noise  as  if  a 
multitude  of  tiny  steps  were  coming  forwards  from  the 
drawing-room.  At  the  same  time  the  bed-room  door  was 
opened,  and  they  beheld  advancing  an  embassy  of  the  little 
dwarfs  we  have  been  speaking  of.  The  ambassador,  who 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHA'S 


came  first,  was  richly  clad  according  to  the  fashion  of  the 
day,  and  wore  a  mantle  of  fur,  a  velvet  doublet,  panta- 
loons, and  small  shoes 
with  very  long  points. 
At  his  side  hung  a  sword 
of  the  finest  steel,  the  hilt 
of  which  consisted  of  a 
single  diamond.  He 
courteously  carried  in 
his  hand  his  small  fea- 
-•  -  ~  ~  thered  cap,  and  drawing 
near  the  bed  on  which 
lay  the  two  spouses,  who  looked  upon  him  and  his  com- 
panions with  astonishment,  he  spoke  to  them  in  these 
terms : — 


HONEY  BEOTH. 


T  length  we  ve  heard  that,  whilst  bright  hopes  inspire 
The  prosperous  deeds  which  now  your  fortunes  gild, 
( You  have  to-night  conceived  a  great  desire 
The  mansion  of  your  fathers  to  rebiuld. 


The  task 's  a  good  one ;  for  the  walls  are  old, 
The  huge  stone  pile  is  crumbling  from  decay, 

And  in  wet  weather  the  rain-water  cold 
Through  the  old  ivy  mantle  finds  its  way. 

Make  haste,  then,  and  destroy  this  old  domain; 

Let  a  fair  mansion  rise  up  in  its  place ; 
But  in  the  new  one  let  there  ever  reign, 

The  spotless  virtue  of  thy  ancient  race ! 


Count  Osmond  was  too  much  amazed  at  what  he  wit- 
nessed to    make   any  other  answer    beyond   waving  his 

hand  ;  but  this  courtesy  was  all 

the   ambassador  required,   and, 

after  making  a  formal  bow  to 

the  Count 

and  Lady 

Bertha,  he 

withdrew. 

The  next 

morning  the  count  and  his  lady  awoke 
very  much  relieved;  the  great  difficulty  was  removed: 
and,  encouraged  by  the  assent  of  his  good  little  friends, 
Osmond  sent  for  a  skilful  architect,  who,  the  same  day, 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHA'S 


having  resolved  to  demolish  the  old  castle,  set  a  parcel  of 


Ills  men  to  work,  whilst  others  brought  fresh  stones  from 


the  quarry,  hewed  down  tho  large  oaks  to  make  beams, 


HONEY  BROTH. 


11 


and  the  fir  trees  to  make  rafters.     In  less  than  a  month 
the  old  mansion  was  levelled  to  the  ground, 
and  as  the  new  castle  could 
not  be  built,  as  the  archi- 
tect asserted,  in  less 
than  three  years,  the 
,K        count    and    his    lady 
retired  in  the  mean- 
time to  a  small  farm 
which   stood  near  to 
the  old  castle. 


THE   HONEY   BROTH. 

Meanwhile   the  new   castle  rose  rapidly  up,   for  the 

bricklayers  worked  at  it  by  day,  and  the  little  dwarfs 

worked  at  it  by  night.  At  first  the  men  were  very 
much  alarmed  when  they  saw 
every  morning,  on  return- 
ing to  their  labour,  that  the 
castle  had  increased  by  several 
layers  of  stones.  They  told  the 
architect  of  it,  who  spoke  to 
the  count;  and  the  latter  con-, 
fessed  that,  without  being  quite 
sure,  he  was  inclined  to  believe 
it  was  his  little  friends  the 
dwarfs,  who,  knowing  how 
anxious 
he  was 
to  go  to 
his  new 

manor,  had  betaken  themselves  ^ 

to    this    nightly    toil.      Now, 

one    day,   they  found    on   the    ^=sg! 

scaffolding  a  small  wheelbarrow, 

no  bigger  than  your  hand,  but  so  beautifully  wrought  in 


GOOD    LADY    BERTHAS 


ebony  and  bound  with  silver,  that  it  looked  like  a  pretty 
plaything  intended  for  a  little  prince.  The  mason  who 
found  the  wheelbarrow  showed  it  to  his  fellow  workmen, 
and,  at  night,  took  it  home  for  his  little  boy  to  play 
with;  but  the  moment  the  lad  offered  to  touch  it,  the 
wheelbarrow  rolled  off  by  itself,  and  ran  away  so  fast, 
that,  although  the  poor  mason  ran  after  it  as  fast  as  his 


legs  would  carry  him,  it  disappeared  in  a  trice.  At  the 
same  instant  he  could  hear  short,  sharp,  strident,  and 
lengthened  peals  of  laughter ;  but  this  was  only  the 
Cobolds  making  game  of  him. 

However,  it  was  very  lucky  that  the  little  dwarfs  had 
undertaken  the  work ;  for  if  they  had  not  done  a  good  part 
of  it,  the  castle  would  not  have  been  completed  in  six 
years.  It  is  true,  that  was  precisely  what  the  architect  had 

reckoned ;  for  these 
honourable  jobbers  in 
bricks  and  mortar  are 
accustomed  (and  I 
trust  my  little  readers 
will  never  learn  it  at 
their  expense)  to  leave 
out  one  half  of  the 
truth  in  their  calcu- 
lations. So  then,  to- 
wards the  close  of  the  third  year,  just  when  the  swallow, 
after  taking  leave  of  us,  was  departing  for  another  clime — at 


HONEY  BROTH.  13 

that  season  when  the  birds  who  are  forced  to  remain  in  our 
chilly  country  were  becoming  dull  and  scarce — the  new 
castle  began  to  assume  a  certain  shape,  but  was  still  very 
far  from  being  completed.  Which  the  Good  Lady  Bertha 
perceiving,  one  day  that  she  was  overlooking  the  work- 
men she  said  to  them  in  her  sweet  voice: — 

"Well,  my  worthy  men,  does  the  work  proceed  as 
fast  as  you  can  make  it?  Here  is  winter  knocking  at  our 
doors,  and  the  count  and  I  are  so  badly  off  in  the  little 
farm,  that  we  long  to  leave  it  for  the  fine  castle  you  are 
building  for  us.  Come,  my  good  men,  will  you  make 
haste,  and  try  to  let  us  move  into  it  within  a  month,  and  I 
promise  you,  that  on  the  day  you  shall  have  laid  the  last 
stone  on  the  topmost  turret,  to  treat  you  all  to  a  HONEY 
BROTH,  better  than  any  thing  you  have  ever  tasted  vet ; 


and,  more  than  that,  I  pledge  my  word  that  on  the  same 
day  in  every  year,  you,  your  children,  and  your  grand- 
children, shall  continue  ever  after  to  receive  the  same 
favour  from  me,  from  my  children,  and  my  grandchildren." 
Now  you  must  know,  that  in  old  times  an  invitation  to 
eat  a  "Honey  Broth1"  was  not  a  thing  to  be  despised;  for 


u 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHA'S 


it  was  the  same  as  inviting  you  to  a  very  nice  dinner.  At 
that  period  people  used  to  say,  Come  to-morrow  and  take 
your  honey  broth  with  me,  as  people  now  say,  Come  to- 
morrow, and  take  potluck  with  us;  in  both  cases  ft  good 
dinner  being  understood. 

Therefore,  on  hearing  this  promise,  the  mouths  of  the 
workmen  began  to  water ;    they  wrought  with  double 

energy,  and  got  on  so 
speedily,  that  on  the 
1st  of  October  the 
Castle  of  Wistgaw  was 
completed. 

The  Good  Lady  Bertha, 
faithful  to  her  promise, 
ordered  her  servants  to 
prepare,  for  every  man 
who  had  set  his  hand 
to  the  work,  a  sumptuous  repast;  which,  owing  to  the 
number  of  the  guests,  was  served  up  in  the  open  air. 


HONEY  BROTH.  15 

At  the  beginning,  when  the  soup  was  served,  the 
weather  was  perfectly  fine,  and  not  one  had  bethought  him 
of  the  inconvenience  of  dining  without  shelter ;  but  after- 
wards, when,  in  fifty  enormous  tureens,  the  smoking  Honey 
Broth  was  brought  to  table,  flakes  of  snow  fell  down  thick 
and  frosty  into  every  dish. 

This  accident,  which  disturbed  the  dinner  at  its  close, 
so  greatly  annoyed  the  Good  Lady  Bertha,  that  she  re- 
solved for  the  future  to  celebrate  this  festival  in  the 
month  when  the  roses  bloom;  and  the  anniversary  of 
this  famous  Honey  Broth  was  henceforward  fixed  for  the 
1st  of  June. 

Moreover  Bertha  confirmed  the  establishment  of  this 
pious  solemnity  by  a  deed,  in  which  she  bound  herself,  her 
descendants,  and  successors, — by  whatever  title  the  castle 
might  revert  to  them, — to  give,  on  every  1st  of  June, 
a  Honey  Broth  to  her  vassals,  declaring  that  she  should  not 
rest  peaceably  in  her  grave 
unless  this  observance  were 
strictly  adhered  to. 

This  deed,  engrossed 
by  a  notary  on  parchment, 
was  signed  by  Bertha, 
sealed  with  the  count's  ^_ 
coat  of  arms,  and  deposited 
among  the  records  of  the 
family. 

THE    APPARITION. 

For  the  next  twenty  years  Lady  Bertha  presided  with 
the  same  goodness  and  magnificence  at  the  festival  which 
she  had  founded;  but  at  length,  in  the  course  of  the 
twenty-first  year,  she  died  in  holiness  and  purity,  and  was 
buried  in  the  vault  of  her  ancestors  to  the  grief  of  her 
husband  and  the  regret  of  the  whole  country.  Two  years 


GOOD  LADY  BERTHAS 


later,  Count  Osmond,  after  faithfully  observing  the  custom 
which  his  wife  had  established,  died  in  his  turn,  leaving 
behind  him  but  one  successor,  his  son,  Count  Ulrick  de 
Rosemberg,  who,  inheriting 
both  the  courage  of  Osmond 
and  the  virtues  of  Bertha, 
made  no  change  in  the  happy 
condition  of  his  peasantry,  or 
rather  did  his  best  to  im- 

Sove  it. 
nt  all  of  a  sudden  a  great 
war  was  declared,  and  nume- 
rous bands  of  the  enemy  sailed 
up  the  Rhine,  and  took  pos- 
'session  of  the  different  castles 
which  stood  on  its  banks. 
These  soldiers  came  from  the 
further  end  of  Germany,  for  it  was  their  Emperor  who 
was  then  at  war  with  the  Burgraves. 

Ulrick  was  not  strong  enough  to  resist  the  enemy; 
still,  as  he  was  a  bold  and  brave  knight,  he  would  have 


HONEY  BROTH. 


17 


buried  himself  beneath  the  ruins  of  his 
castle,  had  he  not  reflected  on  the  cruel 
misfortunes  which  a  resistance  so  des- 
perate would  bring  upon  the  country. 
For  the  sake  of  his  vassals  he  retired 
into  Alsatia,  leaving  old  Fritz,  his 
steward,  to  watch  over  the  estates  and 

domains  which  were  about  to  pass  over  into  the  hands 

of  the  enemy. 

The    general  who    conducted   the   troops   marching 

upon  this  point  was  called  Dominick.     He  took  up  his 

abode  in  the  castle,  which  he  thought  very  comfortable, 

and   quartered    his    soldiers    about    the    neighbourhood. 

This  general  was  a  man 

of   low    origin,   who    had 

started  as  a  private  soldier, 

and  who,   rather   by  the 

favour  of  his  prince  than 

by  his  own  bravery   and 

good  qualities,   had  risen 

to  be  a  commander. 

I   tell    you   this,    my 

good  boys  and  girls,   for 

fear  you  should  suppose  1 

am  condemning  those  who 

from  low  beginnings  con-  ^ 

trive  to  make   their  way 

upwards:    now  I  myself 

very    much   esteem   such 

men,  when  they  have  de- 
served the  change  in  their 

fortunes.      But  there  are 

two  sorts  of  soldiers  of  for- 
tune; those  who  attain  rank  by  their  bravery,  and  those 

who  are  preferred  to  it  through  favour. 

Now,  this  General  Domiuick  was  no  better  than  a 


18  GOOD  IADY  BERTHA'S 

brutal  and  ignorant  favourite,  brought  up  to  eat  the 
barrack  bread  and  drink  plain  water ;  but  he  now  feasted 
abundantly  ou  the  most  delicate  viands,  and  drank  the 


most  costly  wines,  feeding  his  dogs  on  the  remnants  from 
his  table,  instead  of  giving  them  to  the  poor  and  hungry. 

Well,  the  very  first  day 
of  his  arrival  at  the  castle, 
he  sent  for  old  Fritz,  and 
handed  to  him  a  list  of  the 
exactions  he  purposed  to 
charge  the  country  with — 
a  list  so  very  exorbitant, 
that  the  steward  fell  on  -fes 
his  knees,  and  implored 
him  not  to  lean  in  so  heavy  a  manner  upon  the  poor 
country  people.  But  the  general  only  replied,  that  as 
nothing  was  so  vexatious  to  him  as  to  hear  people  murmur, 
that  he  would  double  his  demands  on  hearing  the  first 
complaint.  Now  the  general  was  the  strongest  party,  he 
had  the  conqueror's  right,  and  as  there  was  no  help  for  it, 
the  people  were  forced  to  obey. 

It  will  be  easy  to  guess,  from  the  character  of  Domi-» 


HONEY  BROTH. 


19 


nick,  what  sort  of  reception  lie  gave  to  Fritz  when  he 
came  to  speak  of  the  festival  established  by  the  Good  Lady 


Bertha.      The  general  burst  into  a  contemptuous  fit  of 
laughter,  and  answered,  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  vassals 


20  GOOD   LADY  BERTHA*S 

to  feed  their  lords,  and  not  the  duty  of  the  lords  to  feed 
their  vassals;  that  therefore  he  requested  the  customary 
guests  of  Lady  Bertha  to  go  and  dine  on  the  1st  of  June 
wherever  they  thought  proper,  telling  them  for  certain  it 
should  not  be  with  him. 

This  solemn  day  consequently  passed  off  for  the  first 
time  since  twenty-five  years,  without  beholding  round  the 
hospitable  board  the  jovial  vassals  of  the  house  of  Rosem- 
berg ;  but  so  great  was  the  terror  in  which  Dominick  was 
held,  that  nobody  dared  complain.  Besides,  Fritz  had  obeyed 
his  instructions,  and  so  the  peasants  already  knew  that 
their  cruel  master  did  not  intend  to  abide  by  the  old 
custom. 

As  for  Dominick,  he  supped  and  got  drunk  as  usual, 
and  then  retiring  to  his  bed-room,  after  having  posted  his 
sentinels  in  the  passages  and  at  the 
gates  of  the  castle,  he  went  to  bed 
and  fell  asleep. 

Contrary  to  custom,  the  general 
awoke  in  the  dead  of  the  night; 
and  as  it  was  his  practice  to  make 
but  one  slumber  till  morning,  he  at 
5rst  believed  the  next  day  had 
arrived,  but  he  was  mistaken,  it 
was  not  yet  light,  and  through  a 
shmk  in  the  shutter,  lo,  the  stars 
were  seen  shining  in  the  sky ! 

Moreover,  something  unusual 
was  passing  in  his  mind;  an  in- 
distinct kind  of  fear,  a  presentiment 
of  something  strange  which  was 
about  to  happen.  He  thought  the  air  floated  around  him 
as  if  beaten  by  the  wings  of  the  spirits  of  night;  his 
favourite  dog,  which  was  tied  up  in  the  yard  beneath 
his  windows,  yelled  piteously;  and  when  he  heard  that 


HONEY  BROTH. 


21 


mournful  cry,  the  new  lord  of  the  castle  felt  a  cold  sweat 
trickle  from  his  forehead  in  huge  bead  drops. 


The  clock  began  to  strike  twelve  slowly  and  heavily, 
and  at  every  stroke  the  terror  of  this  man,  who  was 

however  reputed  brave,  in- 
creased to  such  a  degree, 
that  at  the  tenth  stroke 
he  could  rest  no  longer; 
he  sat  up  on  his  elbow, 
and  prepared  to  open  his 
door  and  call  the  sentinel. 
But  at  the  last  stroke,  and 
just  as  his  feet  reached  the 
floor,  he  heard  the  door, 
which  he  remembered  to 
have  fastened,  open  of  it- 
self, and  turn  upon  its 
hinges  as  if  it  had  neither 
lock  nor  bolt.  Then  a 
pale  light  gleamed  over  the  chamber,  whilst  a  soft  step, 
which  made  his  very  blood  run  cold,  appeared  to  draw 


22 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHA^S 


towards  him.  Finally, 
at  the  foot  of  his  bed 
there  stood  a  lady  all  in 
white,  holding  in  one 
hand  a  brass  lamp,  and 
in  the  other  a  roll  of 
parchment,  inscribed, 
signed,  and  sealed.  She 
came  slowly  on,  with 
fixed  eyes  and  immov- 
able features,  her  hair 
hanging  down  over  her 
back;  and  when  she  had 
come  close  np  to  the 
bedside  of  the  general, 
turning  the  lamp  to  the 
parchment,  so  that  the 
light  fell  full  npon  it, 
she  said,  "Do  what  is 
here  inscribed!" 

And  thereupon  she 
held  the  lamp   over  the 


deed,  near  enough  for  Domi- 
nick,  with  his  haggard 
eyes,  to  read  the  bond, 
which  so  strongly  esta- 
blished the  custom  he  had 
refused  to  submit  to. 

Then,  when  this 
frightful  reading  was 
over,  the  phantom,  so 
gloomy,  so  silent,  and  so 
cold,  retired  as  it  had 
come ;  the  door  shut  be- 
hind it,  the  light  vanish- 
ed, and  the  rebellious 
successor  of  Count  Os- 
mond fell  back  upon  the 


HONEY  BROTH.  23 

bed ;  where  he  lay  till  the  next  morning  in  an  agony  of 
terror  which,  although  he  was  ashamed  of,  he  vainly  strove 
to  overcome. 

THE   BARRACK   BREAD    AND   WATER. 
But  at  the  first  dawn  of  day  the  charm  was  broken. 

Dominick  leapt  out  of  bed,  the  more  enraged  that  he  could 
not  inwardly  deny  the  alarm 
he  had  felt ;  he  ordered  the 
sentinels  to  be  summoned,  who 
at  midnight  had  to  mount 
guard  in  the  passages  and  at 
the  gates.  The  poor  fellowa 
shook  and  trembled  as  they 
drew  near  him,  for  just  as  the 
clock  was  striking  twelve,  a 
sleep  they  could  not  shake  off 
had  stolen  over  them,  and 
they  had  awoke  some  time 
after  without  being  able  to 
tell  how  long  they  had  slept, 
But  luckily  they  met  at  the 
door,  and  agreed  to  say  they 

had  kept  a  good  watch;  and  as 

they  were  fully  awake  when  they 

were  relieved,  they  hoped  no  one 

had  detected  their  breach  of  dis- 
cipline. In  short,  to  every  ques- 
tion their  general  put  to  them, 

they  replied  they  (fid  not  know 

what  woman  he  meant,  and  that 

they  had  not  seen  any  thing  at  all ; 

but  then   the  steward,  who  was 

present,    declared    to    Dominick 

that  it  was  not  a  woman  but  a 

epirit  that  had  visited  him,  and      -^- 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHAS 


that  this  spirit  was  that  of  the  Good  Lady  Bertha.  Dominick 
knit  his  brows ;  but  struck,  however,  with  what  Fritz  told 
him,  he  spoke  with  him  apart,  and  having  learned  from 
him  that  this  festival  ~fc^fly>£f|&ffflf>-  had  become  an  obli- 
gation on  the  part  of  vJnlllHP  Lady  Bertha,  upon 
her  successors  and  ^S^^^^R,  future  lords  of  the 
castle,  whoever  they  ^a^jPI  ?§5  might  be,  by  means 
of  a  deed  attested  ^"J|g|Mi|^u^  by  a  notary,  and 
that  this  deed  was  €pip|iii||P'  among  the  records, 
he  ordered  Fritz  to  V>  n^  bring  it  to  him,  and 

the  moment  he  cast  his  eyes  upon  it,  he  recognised  the 
parchment  which  the  spirit  had  held  before  him.  Until 
then,  Dominick  had  never  heard 
of  the  bond;  for  although  he 
was  very  exact  in  looking  after 
the  deeds  which  bound  other 
people  to  him,  he  was  not  quite 
so  strict  as  to  those  deeds  which 
bound  him  to  other  people. 
Nevertheless,  in  spite  of  the 
deed  so  perfect  and  precise, 
though  he  had  read  it  atten- 
tively, and  in  spite  of  old  Fritz's  entreaties  and  cautions 
not  to  disregard  the 
warning  he  had  received, 
Dominick  took  no  heed 
of  what  had  occurred, 
and  that  same  day  in- 
vited his  whole  staff  to 
a  grand  dinner.  This  en- 
tertainment was  to  have 
been  one  of  the  most 
splendid  he  had  ever 
given. 

Indeed,  the  terror  of  Dominick's  name  was  so  great, 
that  at  the  appointed  hour,  though  his  instructions  had 


HONEY  BROTH.  25 

been  given  only  since  the  morning,  the  board  was  crowded 

with  a  bountiful  repast.     The  most  delicate  dishes,  the 

finest  and  most  expensive  wines — Rhenish,  French  and 
Hungarian  —  had  been  col- 
lected for  the  company,  who 
sat  down  to  table  loudly  prais- 
ing the  magnificent  bounty  of 
their  general.  But  on  taking 
his  seat,  the  latter  grew  sud- 
denly pale  with  wrath,  and 
f  roared  out  with  a  dreadful 

oath:     "What  ass  is  it  has  laid  before  me  this  barrack 

bread?" 

And,  truly,  there  beside  the  general  lay  a  loaf  of  bread 

like  those  which  are  given  out  to  soldiers,  and  such  as 

often  and  often  this  very  man  had  been  used  to  eat  in  his 

youth. 

The  company  stared  at  each  other  in  amazement,  un- 
willing to  believe  that  there  could  be  any  body  alive  who 

would  dare  to  put  such  a  joke  upon 

a   man   so  haughty,   passionate,   and 

revengeful  as  their  commander. 

"Rascal,   come    hither,"  said   the 

general  to  the  servant  who  stood  behind 

him,  "  and  remove  this  loaf." 

The  valet  obeyed  with  the  alacrity 

that  fear  always  inspires;  but  it  was 

in  vain  that  he  attempted  to  remove 

the  loaf. 

"  My  lord,"  said  he,  after  several  repeated  but  useless 

exertions,  "  this  loaf  must  be  fastened  to  the  table,  for  I 

cannot  lift  it." 

Then  the  general,  whose  bodily  strength  was  known  to 

be  equal  to  that  of  four  common  men,  set  both  his  hands 

to  the  loaf  and  tried  himself  to  remove  it;  but  in  vain, 

he  only  lifted  up  the  table  with  the  loaf,  and,  after  u 


20  GOOD  LADY  BERTHA'S 

struggle  of  five  minutes'  continuance,  he  fell  back  in  hia 
chair,  exhausted  with  fatigue  and  covered  with  perspiration. 


"Wine,  rascal!  wine,  and  the  very  best!  Mind,'*  said 
he,  in  a  gruff  voice,  holding  out  his  glass,  "  I  shall  find  out, 


depend  upon  it,  who  1ms  played  me  this  strange  trick ;  and 
rely  upon  me  he  shall  be  rewarded  as  he  deserves.    So 


HONEY   BROTH. 


eat,  gentlemen;  eat,  I  say.    I  drink  health  and  good  appetite 
to  all."    He  then  raised  his  glass  to  his  mouth,  but  the  next 
moment  he  spit  out  what  he  had  taken,  exclaiming: — 
"  What  villain  poured  me  out  this  wretched  beverage  ?" 
"  It  was  I,  sir,"  said  one  of  the  servants  trembling,  and 
who  held  a  bottle  in  his  hand. 

"And  what  does  that  bottle  contain,  you  vile  fellow?" 
"Tokay,  sir." 

"You  speak  falsely,  you  rascal; 
it  was  water  you  gave  me." 

"The  wine  must  have  turned 
into  water  as  it  passed  into  your 
lordship's  glass,"  said  the  valet :  "  for 
I  poured  out  two  glasses  from  the 
same  bottle  to  the  gentlemen  on 
your  right  and  left,  and  those  gentle- 
men can  bear  me  out  that  it  was 
real  Tokay." 

The  general  turned  to  the  two  officers,  who  confirmed 
what  the  servant  had  protested. 

Then  Dominick  knit  his  brow,  for  he  began  to  under- 
stand that  the  joke  was  possibly  more  serious  than  it  had 
at  first  appeared;  for  he  thought  that  the  jest  had  come 
from  the  living,  whereas,  in  all  likelihood,  it  really  came 
from  the  dead.  Then,  resolving  to  arrive  at  the  truth  by 
his  own  observation,  he  took 
the  bottle  out  of  the.  servant's 
hand,  and  poured  out  some 
of  the  Tokay  wine  to  his 
p|  neighbour.  The  wine  showed 
its  usual  colour,  appearing 
like  liquid  topaz;  imme- 
diately he  poured  from  the 
same  bottle  into  his  own  glass ;  but,  as  fast  as  it  fell  into 
his  glass,  the  wine  assumed  the  clear  transparent  colour 
and  the  taste  of  water. 


28  GOOD    LADY   BERTHA'S    HONEY   BROTH. 

Dominick  smiled  most  bitterly  at  this  tacit  allusion  to 
the  lowness  of  his  origin,  and  unwilling  to  sit  near  that 
black  loaf,  which  seemed  to  be  riveted  there  to  humble 
him,  he  signed  to  his  aide-de-camp,  a  young  man  belonging 


LO  one  of  the  noblest  families  in  Germany,  to  change 
places  with  him.  The  young  officer  obeyed,  and  the 
general  then  took  his  seat  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
board. 

But  he  was  not  a  whit  more  fortunate  in  his  new 
post;  for,  whilst  the  aide-de-camp  easily  loosened  the 
black  bread  from  the  table  and  it  became  white  and 
delicate,  every  morsel  of  bread  that  Dominick  lifted 
to  his  mouth  was  instantly  converted  into  barrack  bread, 
and  all  the  wine  he  poured  out  kept  changing  into 
water. 


X^b 


At  length  Dominick  grew  so  im- 
patient, that  he  stretched  his  hand 
towards  a  dish  of  roasted  larks,  but 
as  soon  as  he  touched  the  dish,  the 
larks  opened  their  wings,  and  away 
they  all  fleAV,  until  they  began  to  drop 
again  into  the  large  open  mouths  of 
the  peasants,  who  had  been  watching 
this  sumptuous  repast  at  a  distance. 

You  may  guess  how  astonished  they 
were  when  they  saw  their  good  luck. 
Such  a  miracle  was  a  rare  event ;  and 
therefore  it  made  so  great  a  noise  in 
the  world,  that  people  still  say,  when 
speaking  of  a  man  whose  expectations 
are  too  big — "He  expects  the  larks  to 
fall  into  his  mouth  ready  cooked" 


80  GOOD   LADY  BERTHAS 

As  for  Dominick,  who  had  the  honour  to  give  rise  to 
this  proverb,  he  was  raging  mad ;  but  as  he  felt  it  would 
be  vain  for  him  to  attempt  to  resist  a  supernatural  power, 
he  declared  he  was  neither  hungry  nor  thirsty,  and  would 
do  the  honours  of  the  feast,  which,  in  spite  of  its  splen- 
dour, had  become  wry  dull  and  irksome,  for  the  guests 
were  quite  at  a  loss  what  faces  to  put  on. 


The  same  evening,  Dominick  gave  out  that  he  had 
just  received  a  letter  from  the  Emperor,  ordering  him  to 
remove  his  head  quarters  to  some  other  place.  Now,  aa 
the  letter,  according  to  his  statement  was  very  urgent,  ho 
started  off  directly. 


HONEY  feROTH.  "81 

I  heed  hardly  tell  you,  my  dear  children,  that  the 
Emperor's  letter  Avas  a  pretext;  and  if  this  illustrious 
champion  was  so  eager  to  set  out,  it  was  not  from  respect 
to  his  majesty's  commands,  but  through  fear,  not  only  to 
receive  the  following  night  a  second  visit  from  Lady  Bertha,* 
but  lest  all  the  time  he  should  remain  in  this  haunted 
castle,  he  might  be  reduced  to  spring  water  and  barrack 
bread. 

Scarcely  was  he  gone,  when  the  steward  found  in  one 
of  the  cupboards,  which  the  previous  day  had  been  quite 


empty,  a  heavy  bag  of  money  on  which  was  pasted  a  label 
with  these  words  written  upon  it — 


"  8T0  pag  for 

Old  Fritz  was  very  much  frightened,  and  stared  at  the 
bag  with  all  his  eyes ;  but  as  he  remembered  the  writing 
of  the  Good  Lady  Bertha,  he  lost  no  time  in  laying  out  the 
money  for  the  annual  dinner,  which,  though  it  had  been 
delayed  this  year  for  a  day  or  two,  was  more  sumptuous 
than  ever. 

The  same  thing  was  repeated  every  1st  of  June;  the 
money  was  constantly  provided  by  Lady  Bertha,  until  the 
imperial  soldiers  having  left  the  country,  Waldemar  de 
Rosemberg,  the  son  of  Ulric,  returned  to  occupy  the  castle 
of  his  forefathers,  twenty-five  years  after  the  time  his  father 
had  left  it. 


32 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHAS 


TPALDEMAR   DE   ROSEMBERO. 

Count  Waldemar  had  not  in- 
herited the  benevolent  disposi- 
tion of  his  ancestors;  possibly 
his  long  exile  from  his  native 
home  had  soured  his  character: 
but  fortunately  he  had  a  wife 
whose  gentleness  and  goodness 
atoned  for  the  bitter  and  morbid 
spirit  of  her  husband;  so  that, 
all  things  considered,  the  poor 
country  people,  wasted  and  wea- 
ried by  twenty  years'  war,  re- 
joiced at  the  return  of  Count 
^  Osmond's  grand-son. 

That  was  not  all:  as,  in  spite  of  the  exile,  the  pledge 
of  Good  Lady  Bertha  had  been  kept  alive  by  tradition 


from  heir  to  heir,  when  the  first  of  June  had  arrived — that 
day  which  the  vassals,  at  every  new  change,  awaited  impa- 


HONEY  BROTH.  S3 

tiently  to  judge  their  new  lords  and  masters— the  Lady 
Wilhelmina  obtained  her  husband's  leave  to  superintend 
the  festival;  and  as  she  was  a  charming  creature  all 
passed  off  very  well,  and  the  peasantry  thought  the  golden 

age  of  Count  Osmond 
and  Lady  Bertha,  so 
often  quoted  by  their 
fathers,  had  returned 
again. 

The  following  year 
the  feast  was  cele- 
brated as  usual;  but 
this  time  Count  Wai- 
demar  was  not  pre- 
sent, as  he  considered 
it  was  not  proper  for 
a  nobleman  to  sit  at 
the  same  table  with 
his  vassals.  Conse- 
quently, Wilhelmina 
alone  had  to  do  the 
honours  of  the  Honey 
Broth ;  and  we  are 
bound  to  admit  that, 
although  deprived  of 

the  presence  of  the  lordly  owner  of  the  castle,  the  enter- 
tainment was  as  lively  as  ever.  The  peasants  had  already 
noted  that  the  pleasure  they  enjoyed  was  due  to  the  lady's 
own  kind  heart,  as  well  as  to  the  influence  she  possessed 
over  her  husband. 

Two  or  three  years  elapsed,  during  which  the  vassals 
became  more  and  more  sensible  that  the  pious  goodness  of 
Lady  Wilhelmina  was  absolutely  needed  to  a'tone  to  them 
for  her  husband's  fits  of  passion.  Her  fervent  goodness  and 
gentleness  were  for  ever  extended,  like  shields,  between 
his  vassals  and  himself;  but,  unhappily  for  them,  heaven 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHA'S 


soon  deprived  them  of  their 
protectress,  who  died  in  giving 
birth  to  a  lovely  little  boy, 
named  Hermann. 

It  would  have  required  a 
heart  of  stone  not  to  regret 
that  angel  of  paradise,  whom 
the  people  of  this  world  had  christened  Wilhelmina ;  and 
therefore  Count  Waldemar 
really  wept  for  several  days, 
and  mourned  the  loss  of  his 
excellent  mate.  But  his  heart 
was  not  accustomed  to  such 
tender  sentiments,  and  when, 
by  chance,  he  did  experience 
them,  he  could  not  retain 
them  long.  Oblivion  grows 
over  the  grave  faster  than  the  grass  does ;  and  six  months 
after  Count  Waldemar 
had  forgotten  Wilhel- 
mina, .and  taken  a  second 
wife. 

Now,  who  was  the  suf- 
ferer by  this  second  mar- 
riage ?  Alas  !  who  should 
it  be  but  poor  little  Her- 
mann: he  had  made  his 
entrance  into  life  through 
mourning ;  and  before 
he  knew  what  it  was  to 

have  a  mother,  he  felt  what  it  was  to  be  an  orphan. 
His  step-mother,  shrinking  from  the  cares  which  were 
to  be  lavished  on  a  strange  child,  who,  as  the  first-born, 
would  inherit  the  family  estates,  committed  him  to  a 
careless  nurse,  who  would  leave  little  Hermann  by 
himself  for  hours  and  hours  to  cry  in  his  cradle,  whilst 


HONEY  BROTH. 


she  went  gadding  about  to  fairs,  and  card  parties,  and 
village  dances. 


THE    CRADLE   ROCKER. 

One  evening,  thinking 
perhaps  it  was  not  really 
so  late,  the  nurse  had  con- 
tinuedinthe  garden,  lean- 
ing on  the  gardener's  arm, 
when  she  suddenly  heard 
the  clock  strike  twelve; 
and  recollecting  that  ever 
since  seven  o'clock  she 
had  left  little  Hermann 
by  himself,  she  hurried 
home,  and  stealing  along 
in  the  dark,  she  crossed  the  yard  unnoticed,  went  up  stairs, 
looking  around  her  with  uneasi- 
ness, stepping  onwards  without 
making  the  least  noise,  and  hold- 
ing in  her  breath  ;  for  although 
the  count's  indifference  and  his 
lady's  hatred  saved  her  fro^u 
reproach,  her  very  conscience 
upbraided  her  with  her  cruel 
neglect.  However,  she  grew 
more  composed,  when,  on  reach- 
ing his  chamber  door,  she  could 
hear  no  cries ;  doubtless,  by  dint 
of  crying,  the  poor  child  had  gone  to  sleep ;  so  she  felt 
relieved  as  she  took  the  key  out  of  her  pocket,  inserted  it 

11 


86  GOOD   LADY   BERTHA'S 

softly  in  the  lock,  and  after  turning  it  very  gently,  she 
pushed  the  door  gradually  open. 

But  as  fast  as  she  opened  the  door  and  looked  into  the 
room,  the  wicked  nurse  turned  paler  and  paler,  and  her 
body  shook,  for  she  saw  there  a  something  she  could  not 
comprehend.  Although,  as  we  have  explained,  she  had  her 
key  in  her  pocket,  and  was  quite  positive  there  was  no 
other  key,  a  woman  had  entered  her  room  during  her  ab- 
sence ;  and  that  woman,  who  was  ghastly  pale  and  sullen, 
was  standing  by  the  cradle  of  little  Hermann,  softly  and 
slowly  rocking  it,  whilst  her  white  marble  lips  were  re- 
peating a  song  which  seemed  not  to  be  human  speech. 

Nevertheless,  in  spite  of  the  alarm  she  felt,  believing 
she  had  to  do  with  a  creature  belonging  like  herself  to 
the  living,  the  nurse  stept  forward  a  little  towards  the 
strange  rocker,  who  seemed  not  to  perceive  her,  and  who, 
without  moving,  continued  her  monotonous  and  awful  tune. 


"Who  are  you?"  inquired  the  nurse;  "whence  did 
you  come?  and  how  did  you  manage  to  make  your  way 
into  this  chamber,  the  key  of  which  was  in  my  pocket?"  ' 

Thereupon  the  stranger  extended  her  arm  with  a  grave 
and  solemn  look,  and  answered : — 


HONEY   BROTH 


I  'm  of  those,  whose  free  passage  no  door  can  oppose 
From  fifty  years  sleep  in  my  coffin  I  rose, 
I  heard  this  poor  babe  make  its  pitiful  moan, 
As  in  darkness  I  lay,  on  my  pillow  of  stone, 
And  I  felt,  in  my  body,  long  crumbling  and  cold, 
My  heart  once  more  quiver,  and  beat,  as  of  old. 


Poor  infant !  thy  lot  in  this  world  I  deplore, 
Thy  father  accurst,  and  thy  mother  no  more ; 
Consign 'd  to  rude  hands,  whose  touch  makes  thee  smart 
Thou  canst  not  oppose  them,  so  feeble  thou  art ! 
Thou  sleepest  to-night  in  the  grief  of  thy  wrong, 
By  thy  son-owing  lull'd  as  a  bird  in  its  song. 


This  night,  riere  below,  sleep  shall  still  close  thy  eyes  j 
ut  when  with  to-morrow  the  sun  shall 


Called  down  by  my  voice  from  the  heavenly  sphere.    — (• 


To  bear  thee  for  ever  from  fate  so  severe, 
An  angel  of  goodness,  all  radiant  and  bright, 
Shall  cany  thee  to  me  on  pinions  of  light. 


38 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHAS 


j  And  thus  having  sung,  the  grandmother's  shade,  for  it 
was  Good  Lady  Bertha,  stooped  over  the  cradle  and  kissed 
her  grandson  with  an  angel's  tenderness.  The  child  had 
fallen  asleep  with  a  smile  on  his  rosy  lips  and  cheeks,  but 
the  earliest  peep  of  day  as  it  pierced  through  the  windows, 
beheld  him  as  pale  and  cold  as  a  corpse. 

The  next  day  he  was  let  down  into  the  family  vault, 
and  buried  near  his  grandmother. 

Be  not  alarmed,  my  dear  children,  poor  little  Hermann 
was  not  dead. 
The  ^  follow- 
ing night  the 
grand-mother 
arose  again, 
and  taking 
him  in  her 
arms,  she  car-  — .r^eS 
ried  him  to 
the  King  of 

the  Cobolds,  who  was  a  little  geni  full  of  courage  and  learn- 
ing, and  lived  in  a  large  cavern  beneath  the  waters  of 
the  Rhine,  and  who,  at  the  request  of  Good  Lady  Bertha, 
undertook  to  educate  her  little  grandson. 

WTLBOLD    OF   EISKNFELX). 


Great,  indeed,  was  the  step- 
mother's joy,  when  she  saw 
the  sole  heir  to  the  house  of 
Rosemberg  removed  by  death ; 
but  God  soon  frustrated  her 
hopes,  she  had  neither  son 
nor  daughter,  and  she  herself 
died  three  years  afterwards. 
Waldemar  survived  her  for 
two  or  three  years  more,  and 
was  then  killed  while  hunting; 
some  said  it  was  by  a  wild 
boar  that  he  had  wounded, 


HONEY  BROTH. 


39 


others  said  it  was  by  a  peasant  whom  he  had  cruelly 
flogged. 

The  castle  of  Wistgaw,  and  the  adjacent  lands,  then 
fell  to  the  possession  of  a  distant  relation,  named  Wilbold, 
of  Eisenfeld.  He  was  not  a  bad 
man,  but  he  was  something  much 
worse ;  he  was  one  of  those  men 
careless  of  their  destiny,  who  are 
neither  good  nor  bad,  who  do 
both  good  and  evil  without  any 
motive  of  love  or  hatred,  merely 
listening  to  what  is  told  them,  and 
who  always  give  credit  to  the  last 
speaker.  For  the  rest,  he  was  brave, 
and  esteemed  bravery  in  others;  but 
he  was  easily  duped  by  pretenders 
to  courage,  as  he  was  by  pretenders 
to  wit  and  virtue. 

So  Baron  Wilbold  came  and  fixed  his  abode  in  the 
castle  of  Count  Osmond  and  Lady  Bertha,  bringing  with 
him  a  lovely  little  ^fcifastte.  £"*'  an  ^n^ant  as 

yet,    named    Hilda,        [^H^lfo         e    **rst    care    °^ 
the   steward  was  to     •  '*  B  explain  to  his  new 

lord  the  state  of  in-   llBOJHK*   come    an<^     Outla7 
connected  with  the       X?  •    property;  and  among 


40 


GOOD  LADY  BERTHAS 


the  expenses,  the  Honey  Broth  was  put  down,  the  custom 
of  giving  which  had  endured,  for  better  or  worse,  until 
that  time. 

Now,  as  the  steward  told  the  baron  that  his  pre- 
decessors had  laid 
great  stress  on  this 
custom,  and  that 
for  his  own  part, 
he  firmly  believed 
the  blessing  of 
God  went  with  it, 
"Wilbold  not  only 
abstained  from 
finding  fault  with  it,  but  even  gave  orders  that,  on  every 
1st  of  June,  the  ceremony  should  be  observed  with  all  its 
ancient  pomp. 

Several  years  passed  away,  and  the  baron  every  year 
continued  to  give  a  Honey  Broth,  so  good  and  abundant 
that  the  peasantry,  grateful  for  this  compliance  with 
Lady  Bertha's  commands,  forgave  him  all  his  other 
faults, — and  his  other  faults  were  many  in  number.  Nor 
is  that  all;  some  other  nobles,  either  through  good- 
nature or  policy,  adopted  the  custom  of  the  castle  of 
"Wistgaw,  and  likewise  established,  on  their  saint  days 
or  birthdays,  Honey  Broths,  more  or  less  flavoured.  But 
among  these  nobles,  there  was  one,  who  not  only  dis- 
dained this  example,  but  likewise  strove  to  prevent  other 
lords  from  following  it.  This  man,  who  was  one  of  the 
most  intimate  friends  of  the  baron,  one  of  his  most  assi- 
duous guests,  and  one  of  his  most  influential  advisers,  was 
called  the  Chevalier  Hana  of  Warburg. 


HONEY  BROTH. 


41 


THE   CHEVALIER 
HANS    OF   WARBURG. 

The  Chevalier  Hans 
of  Warburg,  was  per- 
sonally a  sort  of  giant, 
six  feet  three  inches 
in  height,  prodigiously 
strong,  always  armed  on 
one  side  with  a  long 
sword,  which,  at  each 
word  of  defiance  that  he 
used,  he  kept  beating 
against  his  leg,— and  with 
a  dagger,  which  he  would 
continually  draw  to  give 
effect  to  his  words  whilst 
speaking. 

Morally,  he  was  the 
greatest  coward  in  the 
world;  and  when  the 
geese  on  his  own  lands 
ran  cackling  behind  him, 
he  would  run  away  as  if  a  lion  was  at  his  heels. 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHA*S 


Now,  we  have  already  said,  that  this  Chevalier  Hans 
not  only  refused  to  adopt  the  custom  of  the  Honey  Broth, 
but  that  he  had  used  his  influence  to  prevent  several  of  his 
neighbours  from  doing  so ;  and,  delighted  with  his  former 
successes  of  this  kind,  he  even  undertook  to  induce  Wil- 
bold  to  abjure  this  time-honoured  custom. 

"Zounds!"  said  he,  "my  dear  Wilbold,  it  must 
be  confessed,  you  are  very  good-natured  to  spend  your 
money  in  feasting  a  number  of  idlers,  who  laugh  at 
you  as  soon  as  they  have  eaten  and  digested  your 
feast." 

"  My  dear  Hans,"  returned  Wilbold,  "  believe  me,  I 
have  more  than  once  ruminated  on  this  matter;  for,  al- 
though this  dinner  is 
given  but  once  a-year, 
it  costs,  for  all  that, 
as  much  as  fifty  ordi- 
nary meals.  But  what 
can  I  do?  It  is  a 
confirmed  custom,  on 


which  they  say  the 
prosperity  of  the  house 
depends." 

"  And  pray,  who  is  it 
deludes  you  with  these 
foolish  stories  ?  Your 
old  steward,  I  suppose? 
I  know  what  that 
means;  as  he  contrives  to  scrape  ten  gold  crowns  out  of 
the  treat,  it  is  a  point  of  interest  with  him  to  keep  it  up 
for  ever." 

"  Besides,"   observed   the   baron,    "  there   is   another 
reason." 

"What  reason?" 

"Why,  the  threats  of  the  Lady  Bertha." 

" Can  you  put  any  faith  in  such  nursery  tales,  eh?" 


HONEY  BROTH. 


"Indeed,  they  are  genuine;  and  among  the  records, 
there  are  certain  documents." 

"  So  you  are  afraid  of  an  old  woman?" 
"  My  dear  chevalier,"  said  the  baron,  "  I  am  not  afraid 
of  any  living  creature — neither  you  nor  any  one  else — but 
still,  I  confess  I  am  very 
fearful   of  these   creatures, 
who  have  neither  flesh  nor 
blood,   and  who   take    the 
trouble  of  coming  from  the 
world    below   expressly  to 
visit  us." 

Hans  burst  into  a  laugh. 
"If  you  were  me,  then," 
said  the  baron,  "you  would 
not  be  afraid?" 
"I  fear  neither  good  nor 
bad  spirits ! "  replied  Hans,  raising  him- 
self up  to  his  utmost  height. 

"Well,  be  it  so,"  said  the  baron. 
"The  next  anniversary  is  not  far  off, 
for  it  only  wants  a  fortnight  to  the 
1st  of  June ;  I  will  put  it  to  the  test." 
But  as  between  that  day  and  the 
1st  of  June  the  baron  saw  his  steward 
again,  he  broke  his  first  resolution, 
which  was  to  give  no  Honey  Broth; 
and  gave  orders  that  a  very  sorry 
repast  should  be  prepared,  instead  of 
the  customary  feast. 

The  tenantry,  when  they  witnessed 
this  unusual  parsimony,  were  sur- 
prised, but  they  did  not  grumble ;  /or 
they  supposed,  that  their  lord,  in  ge- 
neral so  liberal  on  these  occasions,  must  have  some  reason 
for  this  economy. 


44 


GOOD   LADY   BERTHA'S 


But  it  was  otherwise  with  those  who  knew  all,  and 
who,  we  are  bound  to  believe,  presided  over  the  destiny  of 
each  owner  of  the  castle  of  Wistgaw ;  during  the  night 
which  succeeded  this  frugal  feast  they  made  such  a  clatter 
that  nobody  could  sleep  in  the  castle,  and  every  one  kept 
opening  the  doors  and  windows  to  see  who  it  was  that  was 


m 

knocking  at  them;  but  nobody  could  see  any  thing,  not 
even  the  baron.  It  is,  however,  true  that  the  baron  pulled 
the  sheet  up  over  his  head,  as  perhaps  you  do  when  you 


HONEY   BROTH. 


45 


are  frightened,  my  dear  children,  and  lay  still,  and  cuddled 
up  in  bed. 

\  \      V    V  \\Vtf.i      \\ 


HILDA. 

Wilbold,  like  all  weak-minded  people,  was  naturally 
obstinate  on  certain  points;  besides,  it  must  be  admitted, 
he  had  been  encouraged  by  his  easy  escape;  for  the 
punishment  of  losing  one  night's  rest  was  not  a  great  one. 
And  if  he  had  saved  thereby  a  matter  of  a  thousand 
crowns,  he  had  also  made  a  good  bargain. 

Thus,  then,  it  happened  that,  encouraged  by  the  repre- 
sentations of  Han*  and  unwilling  to  appear  to  swerve  too 
suddenly  from  a  cus- 
tom so  honoured,  on 
the  next  1st  of  June 
he  invited  his  tenants 
as  usual;  but  this 
time,  abiding  by  the 
very  letter  of  the 
bond  which  ordained 
a  Honey  Broth,  but  < 
did  not  mention  the 
preliminary  dinner,  { 
he  laid  before  them  a 
Honey  Broth,  alone, 
without  any  other  dish,  and  without  even  wine ;  moreover, 


46 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHA*S 


those  who  had  a  practised  palate  fancied  they  could  taste  that 
it  was  not  so  nicely  flavoured  as  the  preceding  year.  So,  on 
this  occasion,  Baron  Wilbold  had  not  only  withdrawn  all  the 
appendages  to  the  feast,  but  had  stingily  doled  out  the  honey. 
Consequently  this  time  the  spirits  of  the  night  were 
angry  in  good  earnest ;  there  was  a-  dreadful  tumult 
heard  during  the  night  all  through  the  house,  and  the 
,  next  morning  they 

found  the  windowa 

broken,  and  likewise 
the  lustres  and  china. 
The  steward  drew 
up  an  account  of 
the  damage,  which 
was  found  to  amount 
precisely  to  the  sum 
which  the  lord  of  the 
manor  usually  ex- 
pended at  the  fes- 
tival. 

The  steward  guessed  the  meaning  of  this  influence,  and 
did  not  fail  to  set  before 
the  baron's  eyes  a  cor- 
rectly balanced  account. 
Now  this  time  Wil- 
bold was  really  and 
truly  angry.  Besides, 
although  he  had  heard 
the  dreadful  caterwaul- 
ing, which  had  turned 
the  whole  castle  topsy- 
turvy all  night  long,  he 
had  as  yet  seen  nothing. 
He  therefore  hoped  that 
the  lady,  who  had  never  again  appeared  since  the  night 
fihe  came  to  rock  little  Hermann's  cradle,  had  now  been 


HONEY  BROTH. 


47 


too  long  in  her  grave  to  leave  it;  and  since,  after  all,  ho 
must  expend  a  certain  sum  every  year,  he  had  just  as  soon 
lay  it  out  in  refitting  his  house  as  in  feasting  his  vassals. 
So  next  year  he  determined  to  give  no  treat  at  all,  not 
even  the  Honey  Broth ;  and,  as  he  foresaw  that  so  absolute 
a  breach  of  the  old  custom  would  excite  the  anger  of  Good 
Lady  Bertha,  he  resolved  fo  quit  the  castle  on  the  28th  of 
May,  and  not  to  return  to  it  until  the  5th  of  June. 

But  he  met  with  a  slight  resistance  to  this  fatal  reso- 
lution. Fifteen  years  had  elapsed  since  Baron  Wilbold,  of 
Eisenfeld,  had  taken  up  his  abode  in  the  castle,  during 
which  fifteen  years  the  pretty  little  child,  we  then  saw  in 
the  cradle,  had  grown  up,  and  was  now  a  charming  girl ; 
gentle,  pious,  and  benevolent,  to  whom  the  continual 

seclusion  of  her  chamber 
had  imparted  a  soft  ha- 
bitual melancholy,  which 
wonderfully  became  her 
countenance,  as  it  like- 
wise suited  her  sweet 
name,  Hilda.  So  that 
merely  to  see  her  by  day 
walking  in  the  garden, 
as  she  seemed  listening  to 
the  songs  of  the  birds  as 
if  she  understood  them, 
or  at  night  seated  at 
the  casement,  looking 
through  the  fleeting 
clouds,  which  sometimes 
shaded  it,  at  the  moon 
which  she  appeared  to  commune  with,  the  most  flinty 
hearts  felt  that  they  could  one  day  love  her,  whilst  hearts 
which  were  sensitive  felt  they  loved  her  already. 

Now,  when  Hilda  learned  that  her  father  had  deter- 
mined this  time  to  omit  giving  the  Honev  Broth,  she  urged 


48 


GOOD   LADY   BERTHAS 


upon  him  every  injunction  she  could  think  of,  strictly 

keeping,  however,  within  the  bounds  of  filial  respect.    But 

neither  her  sweet  voice, 

nor  her  gentle  looks, 

could  reach  the  heart  of 

the  baron,  hardened  as 

it  had  become  through 

the  bad  counsels  of  his 

friend  Hans. 

On  the    appointed 

day,  therefore,  he  left 

the  castle,  telling  the 

steward  that  this  silly 

custom  of  the   Honey 

Broth  had  lasted  long  enough,  and  that  from  and  after  the 

next  1st  of  June  he  was  determined  to  abolish  the  feast, 

which  was  not  only  a  heavy  expense  to  him,  but  a  bad 

example  to  others. 

Then  Hilda,  having  found  that  she  could  not  influence 

her  father's  better 
'feelings,  collected 
together  all  her 
own  little  savings, 
which  amounted 
to  the  very  sum 
the  baron  was  to 
have  disbursed ; 
-  and  she  wended 
her  way  among 
the  tenantry  of 
the  barony,  and 
gave  it  out,  that 
herfather,obliged 

to  absent  himself,  had  been  unable  this  year  to  bestow  the 

Honey  Broth,  but  had  sent  her  to  distribute  the  money 

which  the  festival  would  cost  among  the  sick  and  the  aged*. 
The  tenantry  all  believed,  or  pretended  to  believe  ner ; 


HONEY   BROTH.  49 

and  as  on  the  last  occasion  the  entertainment  had  not  left 
behind  it  any  pleasant  recollections,  they  were  delighted 
to  exchange  a  poor  dinner  for  a  large  gift  of  money,  and 
blessed  the  hand  through  which  Baron  Wilbold  was  pleased 
to  deliver  his  bounty. 

There  remained  none  to  deceive  but  the  spirits  of  the 
castle,  who,  however,  were  by  no  means  the  dupes  of  the 
lovely  Hilda's  pious  artifice 

THE   HAND    OF   FIRE. 

On  the  4th  of  June,  Wilbold  returned  to  the  castle. 
His  first  anxiety  was  to  know  if  any  thing  had  happened 
during  his  absence;  but  on  being  informed  that  all  had 
been  quiet  and  peaceable,  that  his  tenants  had  not 
grumbled,  that  the  Cobolds  had  made  no  clatter,  he  be- 
came convinced  that  his  obstinacy  had  wearied  them  out, 
and  that  he  was  now  rid  of  them  for  ever.  Consequently, 
after  tenderly  embracing  his  daughter,  and  having  given 
his  orders  for  the  morrow,  he  went  quietly  to  bed. 

But  he  was  hardly 
got  to  bed  before  there 
was  heard,  both  in  the 
castle  and  all  about  it, 
a  loud  din  and  so  awful 
an  uproar,  that  human 
ears  had  never  heard  the 
like  before.  Outside  the 
castle,  the  dogs  were 
howling,  the  rooks  cawing,  and  the  owls  hooting ;  the  cats 
mewed,  the  thunder  groaned ;  inside  the  castle,  chains  were 
rattled  and  dragged  along,  furniture  was  falling  down, 
stones  were  rolled  about :  it  was  a  noise,  a  tumult,  a  general 
upset,  to  make  one  believe  that  all  the  witches  in  the 
country,  summoned  by  the  great  evil  spirit,  had  changed 
their  usual  place  of  meeting,  and  instead  of  assembling 
at  the  Brocken  as  formerly,  had  now  congregated  at  the 
Castle  of  Wistgaw. 


GOOD   LADY  BEfiTHA's 


At  midnight  all  was  hushed,  and 
the  deepest  silence  prevailed,  so  that 
every  body  could  hear  the  twelve  strokes 
of  the  clock  as  they  sounded  in  turn. 
At  the  last  stroke  Wilbold,  partly  en- 
couraged, put  his  head  up  out  of  the 
bed  clothes,  and  boldly  looked  about 
him.  Instantly  his  hair  stood  an  end, 
a  cold  perspiration  streamed  down  his 
face,  'a  hand  of  fire'  issued  from  the 
wall,  and  with  the  point  of  its  finger, 
as  if  it  had  been  a  pen,  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing words  on  the  dark  wainscot : — 

"  To  obey  the  good  Lady  Bertha's  vow, 

Seven  days  are  allotted  thee,  Baron  Wilbold; 

Be  warn'd,  then,  in  time,  for  should'st  thou  fail  now, 
The  castle  of  Wistgaw  will  slip  from  thy  hold." 


HONEY  BROTH.  51 

Then  'the  hand  of  fire'  vanished,  and  one  by  one,  as 
they  had  been  drawn,  every  letter  disappeared;  and, 
finally,  the  chamber,  which  for  a  moment  was  lighted  up 
by  this  verse  of  flame,  sunk  into  utter  darkness. 

The  following  day,  all  the  baron's  servants,  from  the 
highest  down  to  the  lowest,  gave  him  warning,  declaring 
they  would  stay  no  longer  in  the  castle. 


The  baron,  who  in  his  heart  desired  as  eagerly  to  leave 
the  castle  as  they  did,  assured  them,  that,  unwilling  to 
lose  such  good  servants,  he  was  determined  to  dwell  in 
another  mansion,  and  to  abandon  Wistgaw  to  the  spirits, 
who  seemed  bent  upon  claiming  the  possession  of  it. 

On  the  same  day,  in  spite  of  Hilda's  tears,  they  for- 
sook the  old  towers  to  go  and  live  at  the  Castle  of  Eisen- 
feld,  which  the  baron  had  inherited  from  his  father,  and 
which  stood  at  half  a  day's  journey  from  Wistgaw. 

THE    CHEVALIER   TORALD. 

At  this  time  there  were  two  things  which  caused  a 
great  noise  in  the  domain  of  Rosemberg :  one  was  the 
departure  of  Baron  Wilbold,  of  Eisenfeld;  the  other  was 
the  arrival  of  the  Chevalier  Torald. 

The  Chevalier  Torald  was  a  fine  young  man,  between 
twenty-one  and  twenty-two  years  of  age,  who  had  already 
despite  his  youth  visited  the  principal  courts  in  Europe ;  in 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHAS 


all  of  which  he  had  gained  a  great  reputation  for  his  valour 


and  courtly  breed- 
a  most  accomplished 
derful  stories  were 
tion;  it  was  said 
infant,  he  had  been 
of  the  Dwarfs,  who 
prince  very  learned 
sworn  to  make  him 
bleman.  Thushehad 


ing.  In  truth  he  was 
knight,  and  won- 
told  of  his  educa- 
that,  when  quite  an 
carried  to  the  King 
himself,  being  a 
in  all  subjects,  had 
an  accomplished  no- 
taught  him  to  read 


the  oldest  manuscripts,  to  speak  all  the  living  languages, 
nay,  even  the  dead  ones, — to  paint  also,  to  play  upon  the 
lute,  to  sing,  to  ride  on  horseback,  to  tilt  and  fence ;  after 
which,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  when 
his  royal  tutor  saw  he  had  attained  that  perfection  in  every 
point  which  he  had  desired  to  bring  him  to,  he  had  given 
him  the  famous  horse  Bucephalus,  which  never  was  tired, 
the  famous  spear  of  Astolphus,  which  threw  out  of  the 
saddle  every  knight  who  was  touched  with  its  diamond 
point,  and,  finally,  the  renowned  sword  of  Durandal, 


which  smashed  like  glass  the  strongest  steel  armour. 
Besides  all  these  precious  gifts  he  had  bestowed  one  which 
was  yet  more  valuable, — this  was  a  purse,  wherein  there 
was  at  all  times  twenty-five  pieces  of  gold. 

It  is  easy  to  imagine  the  impression  which  the  arrival 
of  so  good  and  brave  a  knight  would  make  in  the  country ; 
but  almost  immediately  after  he  had  ridden  through  the 
village  of  Rosemberg  mounted  on  his  good  steed,  armed 
with  his  good  lance,  and  girt  with  his  trusty  sword,  he  had 
disappeared  again,  and  none  knew  what  had  become  of  him. 


HONEY  BROTH. 


53 


Of  course  this  mystery  had  only  served  to  increase  the 
curiosity  awakened  by  the  knight  in  the  neighbourhood. 

It  was  asserted  by  some  that  he  had  been  seen  one 
night  before  the  Castle  of  Wistgaw  in  a  boat,  which,  in 
spite  of  the  quick  current  of  the  Rhine,  stood  still  as  if  at 
anchor.  Others  said,  he  was  observed  with  a  lute  in  his 

hand  on  the  summit  of 
a  rock,  which  rose  oppo- 
site to  Hilda's  casement ; 
on  which  rock  hitherto 
none  had  been  seen  to 
stand  save  the  falcon, 
the  hawk,  and  the  eagle. 
But  all  these  stories 
were  but  vague  reports, 
and  nobody  "could  say 
for  certain  that  he  had 
met  the  Chevalier  To- 
rald  since  the  day  when, 
completely  armed  and  mounted  on  his  steed,  he  had  passed 
through  the  village  of  Rosemberg. 


54  GOOD   LADY  BKBTHA  S 

THE    SPIRIT    CONJURERS. 

'  The  hand  of  fire,'  as  you  have  seen,  my  dear  friends, 
had  allowed  Baron  Wilbold  seven  days  for  repentance; 
but  he,  still  guided  by  the 
bad  counsels  of  Chevalier 
Hans,  of  Warburg,  was 
perfectly  resolved  not  to 
retrace  his  steps ;  and,  the 
better  to  keep  his  resolu- 
tion, he  had  determined 
to  spend  the  three  last 
days  in  riot  and  feasting. 
What  afforded  him  an  excuse  was  the  celebration  of  his 
daughter's  birth- day,  which  occurred  precisely  on  the  8th 
of  June ;  Hilda  having  been  born  in  the  month  of  roses. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Chevalier  Hans  had  a  motive 
in  visiting  his  friend  Baron  Wilbold  more  frequently 
than  he  used  to  do;  for  he  had  fallen  in  love  with  the 
beautiful  Hilda,  and,  although  he  was  at  least  forty-five 
years  old,  that  is  to  say,  three  times  the  age  of  the  young 
lady,  he  did  not  scruple  to  open  his  mind  to  his  friend  on 
this  projected  alliance. 


HONEY  BROTH. 


55 


The  baron  had  never  rightly  understood  those  delicate 
sentiments  of  the  heart,  on  which  young  ladies  for  the 
most  part  base  their  hopes  and  fears,  their  dreams  of  joy 

or  sorrow.  He  had 
chosen  a  wife  without 
loving  her,  and  yet 
he  had  been  for- 
tunate, for  his  lady 
was  a  holy  woman. 
So  he  did  not  think 
that  Hilda  required 
to  love  her  husband 
very  much  in  order 
to  live  happy  with 
him.  To  these  re- 
flections were  joined 
the  admiration  he  felt 
for  the  courage  of 
Hans,  his  perfect 
knowledge  of  the  extent  of  his  fortune,  which  was  at  least 
equal  to  ,the  baron's,  and,  finally,  the  habit  which  had 
grown  upon  him  of  having  for  a  guest  the  merry  talkative 
knight,  who  greatly  diverted  him  with  his  constant  tales  of 
battle,  tournaments,  and  duels,  in  which,  of  course,  he  had 
always  come  off  victorious. 

So  then  he  had  neither  accepted  nor  refused  the  knight's 
offer;  but  still  he  had  let  him  perceive  that  he  would 
gladly  see  him  endeavouring  to  please  Hilda,  which  would 
probably  be  an  easy  matter  to  one  so  brave,  gallant,  and 
entertaining  as  he  was. 

From  that  time  forth  the  Chevalier  Hans  had  multi- 
plied his  attentions  towards  the  gracious  lady  of  his  affec- 
tions, who  had  received  all  his  proofs  of  regard  with  her 
wonted  reserve  and  modesty,  as  if  she  were  quite  at  a  loss 
to  divine  through  what  motive  Hans  directed  all  these 
compliments  to  her. 

The  fifth  day  after  the  apparition  of  *  the  hand  of  fire,' 


56 


GOOD   LADY   BERTHAS 


was  Hilda's  birthday;  and,  according  to  his  project  of 
spending  the  three  following  days  in  festivity,  Baron  Wil- 
bold  had  invited  all  his  friends  to  a  grand  dinner;  and,  as 
will  be  supposed,  he  had  not  left  out  his  inseparable  com- 
panion, the  Chevalier  Hans,  of  Warburg. 

The  guests  were  all  come,  the  company  had  all  passed 
into  the  dinmg-hall,  and  each  was  preparing  to  take  hia 


HONEY  BROTH. 


57 


seat,  when  the  blast  of  a  horn  wag  heard,  and  the  major- 
domo  announced,  that  a  knight  had  just  presented  himself  at 
the  castle  gate,  demanding  hospitality. 

"  By  Saint  Hildebrand  ! "  said  the  baron,  "  the  gallant 
must  have  a  good  nose ;  tell  him  he  is 
welcome,  and  that  we  bide  his  coming 
to  sit  down  to  our  repast." 
Five  minutes  later,  in  came  the  knight. 
He  was  a  fine  young  man,  with  dark 
hair  and  blue  eyes,  and  his  easy  man- 
ners evidently  proved  that  in  the 
course  of  his  travels  he  had  been 
used  to  receive  the  hospitality  of  the 
greatest  princes.  His  noble  bearing 
instantly  struck  the  whole  company, 
and  Baron  Wilbold,  discerning  his 
merit,  offered  as  his  host  to  give  up  his  own  place  to  him. 
But  the  stranger  declined  the  honour,  and,  after  replying 


to  the  baron's  invitation  with  a  most  courteous  compli- 
ment, he  took  one  of  the  lower  seats  at  the  table. 

Nobody  knew  this  knight,  and  every  one  looked  at  him 
with  curiosity.  Hilda  alone  cast  her  eyes  down,  and  had 
any  person  looked  at  her  when  the  knight  appeared  at  the 
door,  he  might  have  observed  that  she  blushed. 


58 


GOOD    LADY   BERTHAS 


The  dinner  was  magnificent  and  uproarious ;  the  wine 
flowed  without  limit ;  Baron  Wilbold  and  Hans  were  re- 
marked for  the  cordiality  with 
which  they  drank  each  other's 
healths.  The 
dinner  could 
hardly  begin 
and  end  with- 
out some  re- 
ference being 
made  to  the  ap- 
paritions at  the 
Castle  of  Wistgaw.  The  Chevalier  Hans  began  to  rally 
the  baron  on  the  alarm  he  had  felt  at  these  visitations,  an 
alarm  which  he  avowed  with  all  the  openness  of  a  man  of 
genuine  spirit. 

"  Zounds  !  my  dear  chevalier,"  said  he,  "  I  should  like 
to  have  seen  you  in  my  place,  when  that  terrible  *  hand  of 
fire'  drew  upon  the  wall  that  famous  verse,  of  which  I  have 
not  forgotten  a  single  syllable." 

"  Mere  fancies,"  replied  Hans  ;  "  the  dreams  of  a  disor- 
dered mind ;  for  my  part  I  do  not  believe  in  phantoms." 

"  You  do  not  believe  in  them  because  you  have  never 
yet  seen  any  ;  but  if  you  were  to 
see   one  what  would  you  say?" 
"I  would    conjure    it,"    said 
Hans,   striking  his  huge    sword, 
and  making  it  ring  on  the  floor, 
"  so  as  to  prevent  its  ever  again  ap- 
pearing before  me,  I  promise  you." 
"  Well,"  said  the  baron,  "here, 
Hans,  I  make  you  an  offer." 
"What  is  it?" 

"  Conjure  the  spirit  of  Lady 
Bertha,  so  as  to  prevent  its  ap- 


pearing again  at  the  castle,  and  ask  what  you 
it  shall  be  granted." 


will  of  me 


HONEY  BROTH.  59 

« Whatever  I  choose?" 

«'  Yes,"  returned  the  baron. 

"  Take  care,"  said  the  chevalier,  laughing. 

"  Conjure  the  spirit  of  Lady  Bertha,  and  ask  freely." 

"  And  whatever  I  may  ask  for,  you  will  grant  me  ?" 

"  On  my  knightly  word,  I  will." 

«  Even  the  hand  of  the  lovely  Hilda  ?" 

"  Even  my  daughter's  hand." 

"  Father !"  cried  the  young  lady,  in  a  slightly  reproving 
tone. 

"  Upon  my  word,  my  dear  Hilda,"  resumed  the  baron, 
heated  by  sundry  glasses  of  Tokay  and  Braunberger,  "I 
have  said  the  word  now.  Chevalier  Hans,  my  word  is  my 
bond ;  appease  the  spirit  of  Lady  Bertha,  and  my  daughter 
is  yours." 

"  And  will  you  grant  the  like  reward,  Sir  Baron," 
inquired  the  young  stranger,  "  to  the  man  who  shall  accom- 
plish the  undertaking  when  Chevalier  Hans  shall  have 
failed  ?" 

"When  I  shall  have  failed!"  cried  Hans.  "How 
now  !  suppose  you  then  I  shall  fail?" 

"  I  do  not  suppose  it,  chevalier,"  answered  the  stranger 
in  a  tone  of  voice  so  perfectly  gentle  that  the  words 
seemed  to  come  from  a  woman's  mouth. 

"  You  mean  to  say  you  are  sure  of  it.  Zounds!  sir 
stranger,"  said  the  chevalier,  raising  his  voice,  "do  you 
know  that  what  you  say  is  very  impertinent?" 

"  At  all  events  the  question  I  have  put  to  Baron 
Wilbold  of  Eisenfeld  can  in  no  way  interfere  with  your 
projects  of  marriage,  sir  knight,  since  it  is  only  to  be  after 
your  failure  that  a  new  candidate  is  to  offer  himself." 

"  And  who  is  he  will  venture  to  attempt  an  enterprise 
in  which  Chevalier  Hans  shall  have  failed?" 

"  I  am  he !"  said  the  stranger. 

"  But  sir,"  said  the  baron,  "  before  I  can  accept  your 
offer,  gracious  as  it  is,  I  must  first  know*  my  dear  guest, 
who  you  are." 

12 


60 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHA'S 


PAULANT 


"•  I  am  the  Chevalier  Torald,"  said  the  young  man.  • 
This  name  had  spread  so  favourably  through3  the  coun- 
try, that  on  hearing  it 
pronounced,  the  com- 
pany rose  up  at  once 
to  greet  the  knight 
who  had  just  made 
himself  known  to 
them;  Baron  Wilbold 
felt  it  his  duty  to 
pay  a  handsome  com- 
pliment to  the  young 
chevalier. 

"  Chevalier,"  said  he, 
"  in  spite  of  your  youth,  your  name  is  already  so  favour- 
ably spoken  of,  that  an  alliance  with  you  would  do  honour 
to  the  very  noblest  of  houses :  but  I  have  known  the 
Chevalier  Hans  these  twenty  years,  whilst  I  now  see 
you  for  the  first  time ;  I  can  therefore  only  so  far  accept 
your  offer  as  to  submit  it  to  my  daughter's  approbation." 
Hilda  was  suifused  with  blushes. 

"  I  have  always  resolved  in  my  own  mind,"  said 
Torald,  "  never  to  take  to  wife  any  woman  without  being 
assured  of  her  love." 

Since  the  young  knight  had  mentioned  his  name,  Hans 
had  preserved  the  strictest  silence. 

"  Well,  sir  knight,"  said  the  baron,  "  since  you  submit 
the  matter  to  my  daughter,  and  since  you  leave  the  first 
trial  to  my  friend  Hans,  I  see  no  reason  why,  saving  a 
more  deliberate  inquiry  as  to  your  family,  I  should  not 
give  you  the  same  pledge  as  to  him." 

"  My  family  vies  with  the  first  houses  in  Germany, 
Baron  Wilbold ;  more  than  that,"  added  Chevalier  Torald, 
smiling,  "I  am  going  to  tell  you  a  piece  of  news  you  do 
not  suspect,  and  that  is,  that  we  are  in  some  degree 
related." 

"  Helated  I"  crier'  the  baron,  astonished. 


HONEY  BROTH. 


fil 


"Yes,  sir,"  returned  Torald;  "and  we  will  clear  up 
that  mystery  by  and  by.  At  present,  there  is  only  one 
matter  in  hand,  and  that  is,  to  appease  the  spirit  of  Lady 
Bertha." 

"  Yes,"  resumed  Wilbold,  "  I  own  it  is  the  thing  I 
chiefly  wish  to  have  settled." 

"  Well,"  said  Torald,  "  let  Chevalier  Hans  try  the 
business  to-night,  and  I  will  make  my  attempt  to-morrow." 
"  Egad,"  said  Wilbold,   "  that  is  what  we  may  call 
speaking  to  the   point, 
and  I  love  to  see  busi- 
ness done  as  promptly 
as  you  set  about  it.  Che- 
valier Torald,  you  are 
a    brave   young    man; 
here's   my  hand."     So 
saying,    Wilbold    gave 
his  hand  to  the  knight,  who  bowed  as  he  pressed  it  in 
his  own. 

Hans  preserved  the  most  rigid  silence.  Wilbold  turned 
round  to  him,  and  was  surprised  to  see  that  he  looked 
very  pale. 

"  Well,  comrade  Hans,"  said  he,  "  there  is  an  offer  cal- 
culated to  please  e^^tiffi^  you;  an(*  smce 
you  just  now  felt  ^SipS^ljg^  such  a  longing  to 
meet  the  spirits  __^B^^B^  face  to  face,  you 
may  thank  Che-  jB8ll^'j^W-l|f?-  valier  Torald,  who 
has  given  you  an  opportunity  of  see- 
ing them  this  very  "fjjSHlL*  <|<!  (rnHlmf  night." 

"  Yes,  certain-  ^^X^^^^^^  ly>  certainly,"  said 
Hans ;  "  but  it  will  be  useless, 

and  my  time  will  be  lost ;    your  spirits  will  not  come." 
"  You  are  mistaken,  ChevaUer  Plans,"  answered  Torald, 
in  the  tone  of  one  who  is  convinced  of  what  he  says; 
"  they  will  come,  depend  upon  it." 
Hans  became  ghastly  pale. 


62  GOOD    LADY   BERTHA'S 

"After  all,"  said  Torald,  "if  you  will  give  up  your  turn 
to  me,  Chevalier  Hans,  I  will  accept  it  with  gratitude,  and 
will  stand  the  first  brunt  of  these  phantoms;  perhaps 
they  may  be  less  terrible  at  the  second  trial  than  at 
the  first." 

"  Faith  !  sir  knight,"  said  Hans,  "  to  go  first  or  second 
is  all  one  to  me,  and  if  you  desire  to  go  first " 

"Not  so;  not  so,"  said  Wilbold;  "I  will  keep  the 
terms  as  they  were  agreed  upon.  Keep  your  turns,  gen- 
tlemen; friend  Hans  to-night;  the  Chevalier  Torald  to- 
morrow ;  and,  there- 
fore,—"  he  filled  his 
glass,  and  held  it  up, 
"To  the  health  of 
the  spirit-conjurers!" 

The  whole  company 
folloAved  the  baron's 
example;  but  the  lat- 
ter, to  his  great  sur- 
prise, perceived  that 
the  hand  of  Chevalier 
Hans  shook  as  he 
raised  his  glass  to  his 
lip?. 

"  Very  good,"  said  Wilbold ;  "  after  dinner  we  shall 
set  out  for  the  Castle  of  Wistgaw." 

Poor  Chevalier  Hans  was  caught  like  a  mouse  in 
a  trap. 

At  first,  when  he  engaged  to  undertake  the  thing,  he 
had  hoped  to  slip  out  by  one  of  his  customary  tricks :  he 
meant  to  make  believe  that  he  had  gone  into  the  castle, 
and  to  spend  the  night  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  the  next 
day  to  relate  at  his  ease  the  dreadful  battle  he  had  fought 
with  the  spirits.  But  that  was  no  longer  possible;  the 
matter,  thanks  to  Chevalier  Torald's  challenge,  had  now 
assumed  a  serious  aspect,  which  made  him  sensible,  that, 


HONEY  BROTH. 


63 


either  by  his  friend  or  his  rival,  he  would  be  closely 
watched.  And  indeed,  after  dinner,  Baron  Wilbold  stood 
up,  declaring  his  intention  to  accompany  Chevalier  Hans  in 

person,  and  that,  in  order 
to  afford  no  room  for  any 
complaint,  either  on  his 
own  part,  or  on  that  of 
Chevalier  Torald,  he  would 
lock  him  up  in  the  bed- 
room, and  put  his  seal  upon 
the  door. 

There  was  no  escaping ; 
Hans  only  asked  leave 
to  fetch  his  helmet  and 
cuirass,  in  order  to  be  in  a 
fit  state  to  resist  the  enemy,  if  he 
should  appear;  and  this  request 
was  at  once  granted  him. 

So  Hans  went  home,  armed  him 
.,       self  cap-a-pie,  and  then 
<^>  x     the  party  set  out  for    .^3 
the  Castle  of  Wistgaw.  -  * 

dv.  <<Kffl.j  ^  a 

ii 


64 


GOOD  LADY  BERTHA'S 


The  cavalcade  consisted  of  Baron  Wilbold,  of  Eisen- 
feld,  the  Chevalier  Hans,  the  Chevalier  Torald,  and  three 
'  or  four  other  guests,  who  took  an  interest  in  this  event, 
whatever  might  be  the  end  of  it,  and  who  were  to  await 
the  result  at  a  farm  belonging  to  the  baron,  half  a  league 
distant  from  the  castle. 

They  reached  Wistgaw  about  nine  in  the  evening :  it 
was  the  most  favourable  time  to  undertake  the  business. 

Hans  was  very  --^^^t , 

uneasy  within  him- 
self, but  he  assumed 
a  bold  countenance, 
and  appeared  tole- 
rably firm.  The 
most  profound  dark- 
ness prevailed  all 
round,  and  as  the 
silence  was  not  broken  by  the  least  noise  or  sound,  the  castle 
looked  a  very  spectre  itself.  They  entered  the  deserted  hall, 

they  passed 
through  the 
long  saloons 
hung  with 
dark  tapestry, 
and  the  never- 
ending  pas- 
sages ;  and, 
finally,  the 
door  of  the 
bed  -  chamber 
was  reached, 
and  opened. 
This  room  was 
cold  and  silent 
like  the  rest 

of  the  castle. 

They  lighted  the  lustre  and  candelabra,  made  a  brisk  fire 


HONEY   BROTH. 


65 


on  the  hearth,  and  then  wished  Chevalier  Hans  good  night; 
and  the  Baron,  having  locked  the  door,  applied  his  seals  to 
a  paper  band  at  both  ends.  After  which  they  all  wished  the 
prisoner  good  night,  and  then  retired  to  sleep  at  the  farm. 

When  Hans  found  himself  alone, 
his  first  thought  was,  to  get  out  by 
the  window;  but  that  was  impos- 
sible, for  the  window  looked  over 
a  precipice,  which  seemed  all  the 
steeper  in  the  darkness  of  the  night. 

He  tapped  against  the  walls: 
they  returned  a  dull  heavy  sound, 
proving  that  no  secret  passages  lay 
concealed  within  them. 

Whether  for  good  or  ill,  he  found 
he  must  stay.  Chevalier  Hans  tried 
all  the  points  of  liis  armour  to  see 
that  they  were  perfectly  fast;  he 
felt  that  his  sword  was  at  his  side,  that  his  poniard  was  in 
its  sheath,  that  the  visor  of  his  helmet  was  sufficiently 
loose;  after  which,  seeing  all  was  in  good  order,  he  sat 
down  in  the  large  elbow-chair  opposite  the  fireplace. 

Meanwhile  the  hours  glided  by  without  any  thing 
having  appeared,  and  Hans  began  to  recover  his  spirits; 
besides,  he  had  reflected  that,  since  there  was  no  private 
door  in  the  wall,  and  since  the  principal  door  was  shut,  the 
ghosts  Avould  have  as  much  trouble  to  get  in  as  he  found 
to  get  out.  It  is  true,  he  had  heard  that  ghosts  did  not 
care  much  about  such  hindrances,  and  were  apt  to  make 
their  way  in,  without  much  trouble,  through  locks  and 
doors ;  but  still  it  was  a  sort  of  security  to  him. 

We  must  even  admit  to  the  honour  of  Chevalier 
Hans,  that  he  was  beginning  to  fall  asleep,  when  he  fancied 
he  heard  a  loud  noise  in  the  chimney ;  he  threw  directly  a 
log  of  wood  into  the  fire,  which  had  begun  to  sink,  hoping 
to  roast  the  legs  of  the  spirits,  if  they  meant  to  appear  by 


66 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHA'S 


that  way.     So  the  fire  once  more  rose  into  a  flame,  and 

climbed  up  against  the  back  of  the  chimney,  singing  and 

sparkling,  when  all  at  once 

Chevalier  Hans  saw  issue 

from  the  chimney  the  end 

of  a  board,  about  a  foot 

wide,  which  moved  for- 

ward   and    grew    longer 

every    moment,    without 

any    one  being   seen    to 

move  it.     The  board  de- 

scended slowly  in  a  sloping 

position,  and,  on  touching  ___  _ 

the  floor,  stood  like  a  bridge  above  the  flames,  At  the  same 

instant  a  host  of  tiny 
dwarfs  came  sliding 
down  this  bridge,  led 
by  their  king,  who, 
armed  from  head  to 
foot  like  Chevalier 
Hans,  appeared  to  be 
guiding  them  to  battle. 

° 


on  Hans  wheeled  his  chair  backwards  ;  so  that  when  the 
king  and  his  army  were  drawn  up  in  battle  array  before 


HONEY   BllOTH.  67 

the  hearth,  Hans  had  withdrawn  to  the  other  side  of  the 
apartment,  prevented  by  the  wall  from  going  any  further, 
and  leaving  a  wide  space  between  him  and  the  enemy. 

Then  the  King  of  the  Dwarfs,  after 
having  conferred  in  a  low  voice  with 
his  general  officers,  came  forward  by 
himself. 

"  Chevalier  Hans,"  said  he,  in  a  tone 
of  irony,  "  I  have  heard  your  courage 
boasted  of  repeatedly.  True,  it  was  by 
yourself;  but  as  a  true  knight  cannot  -^gr 
speak  falsely  I  credit  your  assertions.  -  ~ " 
Consequently,  I  have  long  had  a  mind  to  challenge  you 
to  single  combat,  and  having  heard  that  you  had  bravely 
offered  Baron  Wilbold  to  conjure  the  spirit  who  haunts 
this  castle,  I  have  prevailed  upon  the  spirit,  who  is  my 
intimate  friend,  to  allow  me  to  take  its  place  to-night. 
If  you  conquer  me,  the  spirit,  by  my  voice,  engages  to 
forsake  the  castle  and  never  to  appear  again ;  if  you  are 
conquered,  you  must  confess  your  defeat  candidly,  and 
give  up  your  place  to  the  Chevalier  Torald,  whom  I  shall 
probably  overcome  without  any  trouble,  for  I  never  heard 
him  boast  of  having  cut  any  body  in  two.  Therefore; 
and  nothing  doubting  your  will,  accept  this  challenge — 
behold  my  glove!" 

So  saying  the  King  of  the  Dwarfs  threw  his  glove 
proudly  at  the  chevalier's  feet. 

Whilst  the  King  of  the  Dwarfs  was  delivering  his 
speech,  in  a  small,  clear  voice,  Chevalier  Plans  had  consi- 
dered him  attentively,  and  finding,  indeed,  that  he  was 
scarcely  more  than  six  inches  and  a  half  high,  his  courage 
began  to  return,  for  such  an  adversary  did  not  appear  to 
him  very  formidable ;  so  he  picked  up  the  glove  with  a 
certain  degree  of  assurance,  and  set  it  on  the  tip  of  his 
little  finger  to  examine  it. 

It  was  a  neat  little  glove,  formed  of  rat  skin,  and 


68 


GOOD  LAD?  BERTHA'S 


scented  with  musk,  upon 
which  had  been  sewn,  very 
skilfully,  a  number  of  small 
steel  scales. 

The  King  of  the  Dwarfs 
suffered  Hans  to  examine 
the  glove    at   his   leisure; 
then,  after  a  short  silence, 
"  Well,  chevalier,"  said  he, 
~_  "I  await  your  answer.    Do 
"  you  accept   or  refuse  my 
challenge?" 

Chevalier  Hans  again 
•g  cast  his  eyes  on  the  cham- 
pion who  offered  to  oppose 
him,  and  who  did  not  reach 
half  way  up  the  calf  of  his 
leg.  Encouraged  by  his 
small  dimensions,  the  chevalier  said,  "But  what  are  we  to 
fight  with,  my  little  mannikin  ?  " 

"We  will  both  fight  with  our  usual  weapons,  you  with 
your  sword,  and  I  with  my  Avhip."  " 
"  How  !  with  your  whip  ?" 

"  Yes,  it  is  my  ordinary  weapon ;  for  as  I  am  a  small 
man  I  require  a  long  reach."     Hans  burst  out  a  laughing. 

"And  do  you  mean  to  fight 
against  me,"  said  he,  "  with  a 
whip?" 

"  To  be  sure  I  do.     Have  I 

not  told  you  it  is  my  weapon?" 

"  And  you  will  take  no  other  ?" 

"No."  .      5 

"  You  promise  me  ?  " 

"  On  the  word  of  a  knight  and  king.' 

"In  that  case,"  said   Hans,  « I  accept  the  combat." 

Thereupon  he  threw  down  his  glove  also  at  the  king's  foot. 


HONEY   BKOTH. 


69 


At  the  same  time,  twelve  trumpeters,  who  were  ele- 
vated upon  a  small  stool,  sounded  a  warlike  nourish ;  and 

then  they  brought  the 
King  of  the  Dwarfs  the 
weapon  he  was  to  use  in 
the  combat.  It  was  a 
small  whip,  the  handle  of 
which  was  cut  out  of  a 
single  emerald.  To  the 
extremity  of  this  handle  were  bound  five  chains  of  steel, 
three  feet  long,  at  the  ends  of  which  glittered  five  diamonds 
as  large  as  peas.  Chevalier  Hans,  on  his  part,  confident 
of  his  strength,  drew  his  sword. 

"  Whenever  you  please,"  said  the  king  to  the  chevalier. 
"  At  your  service,  sire,"  said  Hans. 
Then  the  trumpet  sounded  a  still  more  warlike  flourish 
than  the  first,  and  the  combat  began. 

Now,  at  the  first  strokes  he  received, 
the  chevalier  found  he  was  wrong  to  de- 
spise his  adversary's  weapon.    Although 
covered  with  armour,  he  felt  the  stripes     |; 
as  if  he  had  been  naked;  for  wherever 
the  five  diamonds  struck  him,  they  went 
through  the  iron  as  if  it  had  been  soft 
paste.     Hans,  far  from  standing  on  his 
defence,  began  to  cry  and    r 
howl,  and  run  about  the 
room,  leaping  on  the  bed 
and  movables,  pursued  on 
every  side  by  the  whip  of 
the  implacable  King  of  the 
Dwarfs,  whilst  the  martial 
air  played  by  the  trumpet- 
ers, changing  with  the  in- 
cidents of  the  battle,  rose  up 
toaloud  and  lively  measure. 


(YW 


70 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHA*!? 


This  was  the  very  same  gallopade,  my  dear  little 
children,  which  the  great  musician  Aubert  discovered  and 
employed  in  his  opera  of  Gustavus. 

When  this  exercise  had  lasted  five  minutes,  Chevalier 
Hans  fell  on  his  knees  and  supplicated  for  pardon. 


Then  the  King  of  the  Dwarfs  delivered  his  whip  to  his 
equerry,   and,  taking  his  sceptre  into   his  hand,  "Che- 


JTQNEY  BROTH. 


71 


valier  Hans,"  said  he,  "you 

are  no  better  than  a  woman; 

a  sword  and  a  poniard  do 

not.  suit  you,  it  is  a  distaff 

and  spindle  that  you  should 

use." 

Having    spoken    thus,    he 


touched  him  with  his 
sceptre.  Hans  felt  that  a 
great  change  was  coming 
over  him;  the  dwarfs  burst 
into  a  loud  fit  of  laugh- 
ter, and  then  the  whole 
vanished  like  a  vision. 


THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  DISTAFF. 


Hans  began  by  looking 
about  him  —  he  found 
himself  alone.  Then  he 
looked  at  his  person,  and 
great  was  his  astonish- 
ment. 

He  was  dressed  like  an 
old  woman:  his  armour 
had  become  a  striped  pet- 
ticoat; his  helmet  was 
turned  into  a  cap;  his 
sword  was  replaced  by 
a  distaff;  and  his  dagger 
by  a  spindle.  You  may 
judge,  my  dear  readers, 
whether  or  not  Chevalier 
Hans  looked  very  odd 
aad  very  ugly  in  this 
new  costume,  especially 
as  he  still  retained  bis 


GOOD   LADY   BERTHAS 


beard  and  mustaches, 
accoutred,  Che- 
a  face  which  ren- 
more  singular 
he  thought  he 
and  go  to  bed, 
would  remain  of 
pened.  So  he 
the  elbow-chair, 
ing  to  undo  his 
then  the  distaff 


When  he  saw  himself  thus  strangely 
^- — ^  valier  Han  s  made 

dered   him    still 
and    ugly ;    but 
would     undress 
so  that  no  trace 
all  that  had  hap- 
put  his  distaff  on 
and  was  prepar- 
cap ;     but    just 
sprang  from  the 
chair,  and  dealt  him  such  heavy  raps  on  his  knuckles,  as 
forced  him  to  turn  round,  and  face  his  new  enemy. 
Hans  first  offered  to  resist ;  but  the  distaff  proved  so 
skilful  a  fencer,  that  he  was 
obliged,   a  moment  after,    to 
stuff  his  hands  into  his  pockets. 
Then     the     distaff    returned 
quietly  to  its  place  by  his  side, 
and  gave  the  chevalier  a  mo- 
ment's respite.     He  took  ad- 
vantage of  this  truce  to  exa- 
mine his  enemy. 
The  distaff  was 
a  plain  honest 
distaff  enough; 
just  like    any 
other,    except 
that,  more  ele- 
gantly shaped 

than  common  distaffs,  it  terminated  at  the 
point  with  a  small  grinning  head,  which 
appeared  to  be  making  game  of  the  che- 
valier. 

Hans  pretended  to  smile  upon  the  dis- 
taff and  drew  towards  the  hearth;    then,  choosing   his 


HONEY   BROTH. 


73 


time,  he  seized  the  distaff  by  the  middle  and  threw  it 

into  the  fire.    But 

f      t^^J   y    *\  the  distaff  was  no 

sooner  on  the 
hearth,  than  it 
stood  up  erect  all 
on  fire,  and  began 
running  after  the 
chevalier,  who,  this 
time,  was  not  only 
beaten,  but  was 
about  to  be  burned 

as  well,  when  he  loudly  begged  for  pardon.     Immediately 

the  flame  went  out, 

and  the   distaff  re- 
sumed its  place  in 

his  girdle. 

The  matter  now 

grew    serious,    day 


began  to  dawn,  and 
Baron  Wilbold,  the 
Chevalier  Torald, 
and  the  rest,  would 
shortly  appear.  Hans 
was  reflecting  in  his 
mind  how  to  rid  him- 
self of  this  cursed 
distaff,  when  he  con- 
ceived the  idea  of 
throwing  it  out  of  the  window.  So  he  began  to 
hum  a  tune  to  lull  the  distaff's  suspicions,  stole  up  to 
the  casement,  and  having  opened  it  to  look  at  the  land- 
scape and  breathe  the  fresh  morning  air,  he  suddenly 
caught  up  his  whimsical  antagonist,  flung  him  into  the 
moat,  and  shut  the  window  again;  but  instantly  ho 
heard  the  smash  of  a  pane  of  glass,  and,  turning  towards 


GOOD    LADY   BERTHAS 


the  other  casement,  saw  the  distaff  he  hurled  from  one 
window,  had  returned  by  the  other. 

But  this  time  the 
distaff,  which  had 
been  twice  treache- 
rously  dealt  with, 
was  perfectly  en- 
raged; it  fell  upon 
Hans,  and  bruised 
him  all  over.  Hans 

now  howled  in  good    i^a«B«'    ^•\rev3£tfRSH      «g«^ 
earnest.         Finally,    siSFS^N^DMaflW  X 

Hans  having  sunk 
exhausted  into  the 
elbow-chair,  the  dis- 
taff took  pity  on  him, 
and  once  more  re- 
turned to  his  girdle. 

Then  Hans  thought  he  might  perhaps  disarm  the  anger 
of  his  foe  by  doing  something  for  it, 
so  he  began  to  spin. 
Thereupon  the  distaff  looked  very 
much  pleased ;  its  little  head  bright- 
ened up,  it  winked  gaily  at  him, 
and  began  to  hum  a  little  tune. 
Just  then  Hans  heard  a  noise  in  the 
gallery,  and  wanted  to  leave  off 
spinning;  but  this  did  not  suit  the 
distaff,  who  gave  him  such  hard  raps 
on  the  knuckles,  that  he  could  not 
help  working  on. 

And  now  the  steps  drew  nearer, 
and  ceased  outside  the  door ;  Hans 
was  vexed  to  be  caught  in  such 
a  dress  and  such  an  employment,  but  he  could  not 
avoid  it. 


HONEY  BROTH. 


In  fact,  the  door  was  opened  the  next  moment,  and 
Baron  Wilbold,  Chevalier  Torald,  and  the  other  gentlemen 
who  were  in  their  company,  stood  petrified  with  wonder  at 
the  singular  sight  they  beheld.  Hans,  whom  they  had  left 

invested  in 
knightly  ar- 
mour was  now 
dressed  like 
an  old  woman, 
and  held  in 
his  hands  a 
distaff  and 
spindle. 
The  company 
laughed  out- 
right. Hans 
did  not  know 
where  to  hide 

himself.  «  Egad ! "  said  Baron  Wilbold,  « it  seems  that  the 
spirits  who  have  haunted  you  are  merrily  inclined,  friend 
Hans,  tell  us  then  what  has  befallen  you." 

"  This  is  the  fact,"  answered  Hans,  hoping  to  get  off  by 
means  of  a  falsehood;    "this  is  the  fact,  I  have  laid  a 

wager " 

But  here  the  distaff,  who  saw  he  was  going  to  tell  a 
story,  gave  him  so  sharp  a  rap  over  his  nails,  that  he 
screamed  out.  "  Cursed  distaff!"  he  muttered  to  himself; 
then  he  resumed :  "  It  is  a  wager  I  have  laid ;  for  I 
thought  as  the  ghost  was  a  woman,  a  distaff  and  spindle 
were  the  fittest  weapons  with  which  to  meet  her." 

But  just  then,  in  spite  of  the  imploring  look  which 
Hans  gave  the  distaff,  it  again  rapped  his  nails  so  fiercely 
that  Wilbold  said  to  him: 

"  Hold,  comrade  Hans,  I  see  you  deceive  us,  and  that 
is  the  reason  the  distaff  keeps  beating  you.  Tell  us  the 
truth,  and  the  distaff  will  let  you  alone." 


GOOD   LADY  BERTHA'S 


And,  as  if  it  had  understood  what  the 
baron  had  said,  the  distaff  bowed  to  him, 
and  then  nodded  to  signify  that  he  spoke 
the  truth.  So,  after  all,  Hans  was 
obliged  to  relate  all  that  had  past.  He 
did,  indeed,  strive  from  time  to  time  to 
wander  from  the  point,  and  introduce 
some  episode  to  prove  his  courage ;  but 
then  the  distaff,  who  kept  quiet  so  long 
as  he  desisted 
from  falsehood, 
fell  upon  him. 

so  heartily,  that  he  was  instantly 
driven  back  to  the  path  of  truth 
from  which  he  had  just  strayed. 

The  story  having  been  re- 
lated from  end  to  end,  the  dis- 
taff made  an  ironical  saluta- 
tion to  Hans,  and  a  very  polite 
obeisance  to  the  rest  of  the  com- 
pany,  and  retired  through  the  _ 
doorway,  skipping  on  its  tail,  and 
carrying  off  the  spindle,  who  followed  as  a  child  follows 

its  parent.     As  for  Che- 
valier Hans,  as  soon  as  he 
was  sure  the  distaff  was 
really  gone,  he  fled  by 
the  same    door, 
and     went     off, 
amidst  the  shouts 
and  hisses  of  the 
little  boys,  who 
13i,.  mistook  him  for 
a  madman,   and 
shut  himself  up 
in  his  castle* 


KS&j 

«i'-^^     -  - 


HONEY   BROTH. 


THE    TREASURE. 

The  following  night,  it  was  Chevalier  Torald's  turn  to 
watch;  but  he  prepared  himself  for  this  nocturnal  enter- 
prise with  as  much  humility  and  reflection,  as  Hans  had 
exhibited  bombast  and  levity. 

Like  Chevalier  Hans,  he  was  conducted  to  the  apart- 
ment, locked  in  and  sealed  up;   but  had 
declined  taking  any  arms,  observing,  that 
all  resistance  to  spirits  was  vain,  as  spirits 
came  through  God.     Accordingly,  when  he 
was  left  alone,  he  devoutly  prayed, 
and  sat  down  in  the  elbow-chair, 
and  waited  till  the  spirit  would 
deign  to  appear.     He  had  been 
waiting  several  hours  with  his  eyes 
riveted  on  the  door,  and  without 
seeing  any  thing  unusual,  when  all  at  once  he  heard  a  soft 
step,  and  felt,  from  behind,  a  light  touch  on  his  shoulder. 
He  turned  round,  and  beheld  the  shade  of  Lady  Bertha. 
But  the  young  man,  far  from  betraying  any  fear,  smiled 
upon  her  as  upon  an  old  friend. 


78  GOOD    LADY  BERTHA'S 

"  Torald,"  said  she  to  him,  "  you  have  fulfilled  all  my 
hopes;  a  good,  brave,  and  pious  young  man  have  you 
proved  to  be ;  and  now  take  the  reward  due  to  your  merit." 
So  saying,  and  signing  to  him  to  follow  her,  she  moved 
towards  the  wall,  and  having  touched  it  with  tier,  finger,  it 
opened  and  discovered  a  large  treasure,  which  Count 
Osmond  had  formerly  hidden  there  when  he  had  been 
compelled  to  leave  his  castle  in  time  of  the  war. 

"  This  treasure  is  yours,  my  son,"  said  the  countess ; 
"  and  to  prevent  any  other  disputing  your  title  to  it,  none 
but  you  shall  be  able  to  open  the  wall;  and  the  word 
by  which  it  shall  open  is  the  name  of  your  beloved — 
'HILDA!'" 

Then  the  wall  closed  again  so  tightly  that  no  eye  could 
distinguish  it.  After  which  the  shade,  having  smiled  once 
more  upon  the  knight,  and  graciously  bowed  to  him, 
vanished  like  a  thin  mist. 

The  next  day  Wilbold  and  his  companions  entered  the 


chamber,  and  found  Chevalier  Torald  sleeping  peacefully 
in  the  elbow-chair. 

The  baron  awoke  the  young  man,  who  smiled  as  he 
opened  his  eyes. 

"Friend  Torald,"  eaid  Wilbold,  "I  have  had  a  dream 
this  night." 


HONEY   BROTH.  79 

"  What  dream?"  inquired  he. 

"  I  dreamt  that  your  name  was  not  Torald,  but  Her- 
mann; that  you  were  grandson  to  Count  Osmond;  that 
you  had  passed  for  dead,  although  li ving ;  and  that  your 
grandmother  Bertha  had  appeared  to  you  last  night  to  dis- 
close to  you  a  treasure." 

Torald  felt  that  this  dream  had  been  imparted  to  the 
Baron  of  Eisenfeld  to  remove  every  doubt  from  his 
mind.  So  he  stood  up  without  replying,  and  makipg  also 
a  sign  to  the  baron  to  follow  him,  he  stopped  opposite 
the  wall. 

"  Your  dream  did  not  deceive  you,  Sir  Wilbold,  I  am 
truly  that  Hermann  who  was  thought  to  be  dead.  My 
grandmother  Bertha  has  appeared  to  me  this  night,  and 
disclosed  the  treasure.  Here  is  the  proof." 

So  having  said,  Hermann — for  indeed  it  was  the  poor 
child  whom  Lady  Bertha  had  tafcen  up  out  of  his  tomb, 
and  committed  to  the  care  of  the  King  of  the  Cobolds — 
Hermann  uttered  the  name  of  '  HILDA  1 '  and,  as  the 
spirit  had  promised,  the  wall  did  open. 

"Wilbold  remained  ^a^  =  amazed  and  dazzled 
at  the  sight  of  this  xv  ^  ^^A-ft^  treasure,  which  con- 
sisted not  only  of  c^^^^^M^^^  gold  coin,  but  like- 
wise of  rubies,  erne-  ^^a«8l>'  raids,  and  diamonds. 

"  Come,"  said  he,  ^^^^^^jt^^^  "  cousin  Hermann, 
I  see  you  spoke  the  ^"' ¥^65?  »  truth.  The  Castle  of 
Wistgaw  and  my  daughter  Hilda  are 

yours,  but  on  one  condition." 

"  Name  it,"  said  Hermann  anxiously. 

**  That  on  every  1st  of  June  you  will  undertake  to 
give  the  tenantry  of  Rosemberg,  and  to  all  the  country 
people  round  the  castle,  THE  HONEY  BEOTH  OF  GOOD 
LADY  BERTHA!" 

Hermann,  as  you  will  readily  bcliyve,  accepted  this 
condition. 


CONCLUSION. 

On  that  day  week,  Hermann  de  Rosem- 
berg  espoused  Hilda  de  Eisenfeld ;  and, 
as  long  as  the  Castle  of  Wistgaw  con- 
tinued standing,  his  descendants  gave 
generously  and  without  interrup- 
tion, on  the  1st  of  June  in  every 
year,    to   the    inhabitants    of 
Rosemberg  and  its  vicinity, 
The  Honey  Broth  of 
Good  Lady 

Bertha/       rt#* 

;,     e  _  ,,^^-A 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


^0^\  1*5 


Form  L9-25m-8,'46(9852)444 


>R 

UN1VEE.       '  ,-ORNU 

LOS  ANGELES 


Illllilllll 

3  1158  01058  7: 


